Blog Week 3: What is the Full Day Kindergarten Program?

By: Christine Vacca

The Full Day Kindergarten program is a new initiative by the Ontario government that
has been recently integrated into elementary schools all over Ontario. The Ministry of Education
states that the Kindergarten program is a child-centred, developmentally appropriate, integrated
program of learning for four- and five-year-old children (Kindergarten Program: Ministry of
Education, p. 10, 2016). The purpose of the FDK program is to establish a strong foundation
for learning in the early years, and to do so in a safe and caring, play-based environment that
promotes the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of all children
(Kindergarten Program; Ministry of Education, p. 10, 2016).
What is the programs goals and vision?
There are several primary goals to the FDK program which are the following: (Kindergarten
Program; Ministry of Education, p. 10, 2016)
to establish a strong foundation for learning in the early years
to help children make a smooth transition from home, child care, or preschool settings to
school settings
to allow children to reap the many proven benefits of learning through relationships, and
through play and inquiry
to set children on a path of lifelong learning and nurture competencies that they will need
to thrive in the world of today and tomorrow
All of the visions and goals for the Full Day Kindergarten Program align with and support the
goals for education which are achieving excellence, ensuring equity, promoting well-being, and
enhancing public confidence (Kindergarten Program; Ministry of Education, p. 10, 2016).
How does the program believe children learn?
The Full Day Kindergarten Program believes that children learn best through play. The
FDK program manual states that Play is an optimal context for enabling children to work out
their ideas and theories and use what they already know to deepen their understanding and
further their learning (Kindergarten Program; Ministry of Education, p. 18, 2016). Play allows
children to build, create, manipulate, wonder, and ask questions naturally, moving through the
world in what might be called an inquiry stance (Kindergarten Program; Ministry of
Education, p. 18, 2016). Therefore, educators have a significant role in planning inquiry learning
opportunities that reflect the childrens developmental stage and interests. When children are
exploring ideas and language, manipulating objects, acting out roles, or experimenting with
various materials, they are engaged in learning through play. Ultimately, play has an important
role in learning and can be used to further childrens learning in all areas of the Kindergarten
program. (Kindergarten Program; Ministry of Education, p. 18, 2016)
How Does Play Support Learning?
There has been an ongoing discussion amongst educators and families on how play
supports learning and development. Throughout the years, there has been sufficient evidence
that play has a significant positive role on the development of young children. Many studies
 prove that the neural pathways in childrens brains are influenced by and advanced in their
development through the exploration, thinking skills, problem solving, and language
expression that occur during play (Kindergarten Program; Ministry of Education, p. 19,
2016). Research has also demonstrated that play-based learning leads to greater social,
emotional, and academic success with children. By playing, children are able to practice
essential skills that they will need in order to thrive in their future such as complex problem
solving, critical thinking and to collaborate with others. Based on the research, one can
conclude that play supports learning and promotes optimal development for all children.

References:
Ontario Government. (2016). The Kindergarten Program. Retrieved September 19, 2017, from
https://files.ontario.ca/books/edu_the_kindergarten_program_english_aoda_web_oct7.pd
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