Research studies do show a positive relationship between students who attend a full-day kindergarten program and their academic and social success in later school performance, especially in the first three grades. One of the major advantages of longer day programs is the additional time children have to do all the things that kindergartners typically do.
In making your decision between the private and the public school for kindergarten, the most important consideration is finding a program that meets your child's needs. You need to look closely at the curriculum at both schools. You should choose the program that is concerned primarily with the development of the whole child. Avoid the kindergarten program that concentrates a great deal of the class time on developing your child's academic skills and asks the children to do a substantial amount of workbook and seated activities. Five-year-olds are not ready to be chained to their desks. Select the program that features plenty of hands-on activities and leaves a major part of the day free for play and child-chosen activities. If both programs have equal merit, we would advise you to place your daughter in the program where she will attend elementary school since kindergarten programs are designed to tie in with the first grade curriculum.