Full-day kindergarten getting organized in Ontario

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Schools across Canada are now in the final stages of the academic year. By the end of June, most will be closed for the two-month summer break.

But in Ontario, many principals of elementary schools are busy overseeing the renovations and changes necessary to get ready for a new cohort, a little cohort.  In September, for the first time in Canada, junior and senior kindergarten classes will be full-day sessions, not the usual half-day sessions that have been the norm since kindergarten began in the 1950’s and 60’s.

Kindergarten varies a lot around the world

For some families, depending on birthdays, this will mean children as young as 3 and half, will be starting school.  But according to the experts, everyone will win in the end.

While the physical infrastructure is currently being created, the details of the teaching and the staffing of this pioneering endeavor have yet to be finalized.  Ontario is in the last hours of an election campaign with some varying visions on the delivery of the programs.  But the essential benefits of play-based learning to the children and their future is not in doubt.

The program is optional for parents, but mandatory for school boards. It is an attempt to level the playing field.  Over the last 30 years, as more women stayed in the work force after having children, organized and well-developed daycare increasingly became the norm.  As a result, almost 30 per cent of children, many of whom don’t have the experience of quality daycare, are now arriving in grade one significantly behind their peers in overall development.  The upcoming full-day experience will also allow educators to spot potential problems, or children at risk sooner, allowing for the earlier intervention that is key to later success.

Supporters of all-day kindergarten say the benefits will accrue with lower rates of special education placements necessary, and better adjusted and self-regulated students moving into higher education.

Carmel Kilkenny spoke with Professor Emeritus Carl Corter, of the University of Toronto’s Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study.  He specialized in early education, parenting and child development. He described what can be expected for the students and for society.