I only have one Granddaughter, aged 4, in a community center run pre K program for half days (3 hours) 4 days a week. I do attend some of her activities there. Last one was Halloween. I often go with DD to pick her up or drop her off and she likes me to come in so she can show me around. She goes in the afternoon so when i am visiting she wants grandma to walk her into class. If the same teacher is there, grandson will go there next year. They are not sure if she will be going to school next year. This program (this particular teacher) was recommended through a homeschooling parents group.

Yes we always went to DGD's school for grandparents day.

She's a junior in HS now and I miss the days we could pop in for lunch with her at her elementary school. Some days she knew we (both DH and I or sometimes just one of us) were coming; other days we would surprise her. They got to sit at a special table set aside for visitors. Sometimes I would bring lunch (usually Chick-Fil-A) and that was even better.

Sadly half day Kindergarten has become rare Chisue. Even Pre K (transitional kindergarten) is full days in most public schools here. The district in a nearby city where DD's family lives still has half days but DD isn't sure she can get in since there is a lottery or a wait list. Granddaughter would not be eligible for public school Pre K. You have to turn 5 by September 1st. She was going to a tot enrichment class at first but the teacher felt she wasn't being challenged enough so they moved her to the four day program. Same teacher. She's not necessarily academically ahead but she is way more socially and verbally mature than most kids her age. Part of it is simply her precocious nature, part is having friends and playmates of all ages since she could crawl.

I think all the kindergarten classes here are now all day too...seems like a long day for those little ones, but then I'm probably living in the past ;0)

I don't have grandchildren, but as Auntie I've sat in for grandparents day as surrogate grandmother for nephews over the years when their own too far away or unable to come. They loved that I would be their 'pretend' grandma for the day, give them that special attention....so rewarding.

ETA: As for the surrogate grandma, I remember my brothers sons school (he's now 21) had quit calling it Grandparents Day....so many of the children didn't have grandparents close by, or in some cases grandparents still living, and they began calling it Special Person's Day....so I got to be the 'special person'.

Yes, now in Indiana kindergarten is all day. Last year she went to pre school for a half day. It was at a church. She started in going to some kind of schooling with Mommy at 18 months. Toddler Time and then Story Time they called them. There are I think 21 children in Alyssa's class. They started out with 20 and each class has that many. I think the reason so many go to that school is they have found out it is a better school than some in the area, I won't name names of the schools. Of course, this is the school that Alyssa was to go to, although you can go to other schools also. The teacher usually only has a helper about an hour a day. I think she could use more help. Busy little ones. The teacher had Amber take pictures of each child with their grandparents and whomever they came with. If they had no Grandparent the teacher had Amber take a picture of the teacher with them. The school is about five miles from us.

I know *I* couldn't corral twenty five-year-olds day after day for a school year without more help than an aide for one hour a day.

More about Grandparents: DH volunteers in English classes for four hours a week at the high school in the town next to ours. He's a member of Grand Times -- a group of Seniors who are 'on call' to teachers who request help. They assist with all sorts of things, from classwork...to helping out at Grandparents Day!That is always the day before Thanksgiving recess. About two hundred grandparents attend this event, coming from all over the world. Many are alumni of the school! (Enrollment is 2000.)

I don't recall having trouble corralling 3-4 year olds when I worked at a daycare one summer before university? How much harder could it be with five year olds? And don't US kids need more education, not less time? Just my opinion, but I don't see where this is going?

My neighbor taught kindergarten, and still is. She tells me those first couple of months of the year especially - like herding kittens.

Kindergarten (Children's Garden) used to be about socializing children -- not so much 'educating' them. That was back when parents (and sometimes other care givers) raised children at home, where they had much less interaction with others.

Many of today's children are 'socialized' from the time they are a few months old and put into day care. I have heard grammar school teachers say they now have trouble getting children to think and work independently -- without 'group think'. Maybe that is now a task in kindergarten!

My DGD, five, is reading 'look-say' words (like 'the' and 'and') and printing words in her full-day kindergarten. She attended half-day pre-K before this -- same pattern followed by DGS, now eleven. They both have a lot of other organized activities: swimming and team games, cooking, crafts, and dance and *drama* for DGD! It's a very different world from my early schooling years. IMO they have too little time without being 'supervised'.

I have been to several. They are always fun.. Had a nice program planned and cookies and punch later..

My wife is great with children of all ages and has endless patience and creativity. She has a K-12 credential and takes occasional substitute teaching jobs. She tries to avoid kindergarten assignments but isn't always successful. Even with an aide, she finds dealing with the littlest ones very exhausting. At the preschool age, I think it's worse.

So glad that many of you are able to enjoy school with your grandkids.

Coincidentally I attended Grandparent 's Day with my eldest grandson who is a ninth grader. The grandparents enjoyed a full course breakfast buffet, then the students claimed their grandparents. I attended two classes. In English after a short lesson about not using cliches in writing, the kids teamed up with their grandparents to spot cliches illustrated on a cover of Games magazine. It was fun and challenging. In Biology, the students made a model of DNA using red licorice, colored mini marshmallows, and toothpicks. Besides showing it to their teacher, they had to send a picture of it to someone. If they did not have a cell phone, they could use their school issued IPADS. Welcome to the age of digital education. The morning with performances by the orchestra, mens chorus, a piece from the upcoming musical, and poms. It was a lovely experience.

It is truly wonderful for us to be involved with our grandkids. The little ones and the older ones are so happy on the special days. I mentioned the spice of school i Marilyn's Thanksgiving post. Grandparents or Special Persons Day at school is another spice of school day.

As a former educator, take it from me. Cherish these spice days as there is less and less time for the spice as more time is devoted to the demands of testing and data collection. Please bless and support the teachers who find a way.

I agree Chisue. Childhood is fleeting. DD is a stay at home mom and is determined to keep the child in childhood. She actually cried when she made the decision to put DGD in for 4 half days. Not because she would miss her but because it meant dropping an activity. She told me she refused to be that mother (her words) who micromanaged every moment of her child's day with structured activity.

It's been our experience that DGD is really advanced (compared to her traditionally schooled friends) in so many areas because academics are not stressed in her life. She's read to, she prints the alphabet, writes her name, and she knows her numbers, colors, is starting phonics based reading etc. but she learns mostly through play and activities with mom and dad. She bakes and does all the steps herself with mom's guidance. (math, reading, science, motor skills) They do crafts together and she likes to do it "herself" with little help and her parents encourage this,. She recently made turkey candy pops to pass out to her friends at preschool. She helps dad wrench on the current restoration car. Puts on puppet shows and makes up dance routines. Goes to craft days and meet-ups with mommy groups and home schoolers. Little bro is following right behind in her footsteps. She learns a lot by teaching him skills. She has a lot of time spent at the local parks and meet ups with kids from all cultures and ages. I guess her days are full of spice. We call that learning.

I was at Grandparents/Special persons Day last Friday with my 1st grade granddaughter. We had gym, art, class time and recess, oh yeah, they just happened to have the book fair and we were allotted 45 minutes there!!!! I sure had fun and now I know what Gaga ball is! Anyone else know?

That sounds like a lovely day, Marilyn Sue! It's amazing all the things found in classrooms even those of the little ones.

When I was working at the school, we had a Grandparents Breakfast in the spring and served pancakes, bacon, fruit and fresh juice. Then the grandparents would visit the classrooms. Sadly, it was discontinued a few years before I retired as the kitchen staff said it was too much and they didn't have time to do it anymore. To be fair to them, it was held the same week as our track meet and family bbq, so the cooks had a lot of extra work to do during that week.