Anonymous wrote:MY DS went from a Montessori to school to MCPS K. He said that "you sit on your butt all day. Sit. Sit. Sit." It was hard not to laugh at loud but it isa lot of in your seat work. There are centers but again you are moving to another chair to sit down in.

I wouldn't suggest holding her back though. The curriculum is very easy, below most kids levels on day 1 and more in line with what you see at preschools. If you hold her back, she'll be even more bored.

Yes, the kindergarten curriculum is very easy. Also, it is far too academic. (This is my Goldilocks summary of DCUM's view of kindergarten.)

MY DS went from a Montessori to school to MCPS K. He said that "you sit on your butt all day. Sit. Sit. Sit." It was hard not to laugh at loud but it isa lot of in your seat work. There are centers but again you are moving to another chair to sit down in.

I wouldn't suggest holding her back though. The curriculum is very easy, below most kids levels on day 1 and more in line with what you see at preschools. If you hold her back, she'll be even more bored.

Anonymous wrote:When asked about Kindergarten my son says "we work ALL day" There are some fun parts, but for a young 5 year old boy it looks like a lot of work.

My daughter says this too.

Grace Episcopal Day School in Kensington has a very play-based Kindergarten program. She loved it. They start out with a morning recess and have an afternoon recess also. It is a nice small, friendly school. They get to do activities like art, baking, music, Spanish, etc. It is much easier to do such activities in a class of 14 than a public school class of 25.

When asked about Kindergarten my son says "we work ALL day" There are some fun parts, but for a young 5 year old boy it looks like a lot of work.

Check out NAEYC certified programs, which focus on play based learning. Also any k program that uses Tools of the Mind.

OP, I'm sorry I don't get where you are coming from really well. I think I'm the only person I know who literally jumped for joy on the first day of K for both my kids. I know others were sad. I was so incredibly happy to have them really start their formal education. Just another perspective. Yes, I do miss them during the day, but I love, love, love to see what they are learning and how they are taking it all in.

Thank you PPs! This is very helpful. I never thought I'd be one of those moms who is sad about sending my child off to K. I had actually been looking forward to it for years but now that she's almost there I think I'm just overreacting to this looming transition.

What did you do at school today ? Kindergartens answer everyday, play !!!!! His reading has just exploded as well. Good mix of both

Acorn Hill Waldorf Kindergarten & Nursery.

My son just started K this year. I volunteer in his classroom once a month. You are right in that there is only one recess a day (at 11:30AM for his school). School ends at 3:05 at which time he gets another recess break before going to his after-care program.

The classroom does have centers! At least one of them is art. And they have a formal art class once a week. We get art projects sent home all the time!! The other centers also entail a lot of drawing and coloring with crayons/markers.

I would do some more investigation to your public school Kindergarten "curriculum" while making your decision!

My child was in MOCO K last year. She went outside 2x a day (normally once, but the teacher read the kids and let them have another outlet during the day). They also rarely sat at their tables. Most of the "work" was done on the carpet and at centers. Plus PE, music and art once a week (and I do have issues with these things only once a week, but it's public not private). It won't be rigid, OP. K teachers get that these kids are transitioning from less structure to more structure. It's their job to spend the year educating them and easing them into a more structured environment. Honestly, I do not know one public K where it's any different. K now is what 1st used to be when I was a kid in MOCO schools. I think the only way you will find what you want is to go private (and even then I doubt you will find a completely play based K in the area).

My son is in K in Moco and there are centers, recess, etc. The school work also seems designed to be fun for 5-year olds. (When I ask him what he does all day, he says that he plays.) Also, if you use aftercare, this is usually another opportunity for art projects, playing with friends, etc.

I would go visit your local K..they will most likely still have centers and art projects..though they may be more focused then in pre-school. Recess - probably only once a day. Sorry about that. For a totally pre-school like nevironoment you probably need to look at privates.

Would love for DC to stay in a play-based environment one more year. Does anyone know of any play-based K programs in the area?

She absolutely loves the play-based pre-K she's in now and she seemed devastated when another kid explained that in K they won't have centers, won't be doing as many art projects and would only get to go outside one time a day. She just makes the cut off for K so she's very much on the young side.

We don't want to hold her back a year as she's "academically" "advanced" (whatever that means at this age) but would love to see DC in a setting where she can have more freedom for another year and be learning at the same time.