최근 가족과 사회구조의 변화, 기혼여성의 사회진출 증가 등으로 인해 부모들의 종일제 프로그램에 대한 요구가 급증하고 있다. 이러한 사회적 요구에 부응하여 유치원 종일제 학급이 점점 늘고 있으나, 교사들이 참고할 종일제 프로그램이나 교육 자료가 부족하고 또한 프로그램의 질이 낮은 것이 문제이다. 유아들의 발달적ㆍ교육적ㆍ사회적 요구에 부응하는 바람직한 종일제 프로그램의 운영방안을 제시하면 다음과 같다. 첫째, 유아들이 유치원에서 오랜 시간을 지내기 때문에 부족한 경험들을 보완해 주어야 한다. 둘째, 오후시간을 활용하여 프로젝트 활동에 의한 심화ㆍ확장된 학습을 전개하며, 신체단련 및 자연친화 교육을 실행해야 한다. 셋째, 오전과 오후 프로그램의 연계성 및 다양성을 증진시키기 위한 활동을 실행해야 한다. 양질의 종일제 프로그램을 위해서는 학급 당 유아교사 자격증을 가진 두 명 이상의 정교사가 배치되어야 하며, 혼합연령 학급을 위한 다양한 프로그램이 개발되어야 한다. 취업부모들이 유아기 자녀의 교육과 보육에 대해 안심하고 생업에 종사할 수 있도록 도와주고, 궁극적으로 국가의 미래를 위협하는 저출산율을 제고하기 위해서는 유치원 종일반에 대한 정부의 획기적인 행재정적 지원이 시급하다.

Recently, parents' demand for full-day kindergarten program has been increasing rapidly. This rising demand is caused by the structural changes in the social economy, the rise of the nuclear family, and the growing number of married women who are working. Although, full-day kindergarten classes have been spreading gradually based on the social demand, the lack of full-day programs or materials used by teachers and the low quality of full-day programs in the field is problematic. In this paper, we suggest effective ways to administer a comprehensive full-day kindergarten program that will satisfy young children's developmental, educational, and social needs as follows: First, it should complement young children's experiences that are currently insufficient due to their staying for a long time in kindergarten. Second, it should provide young children with an in-depth and expanded program, as well as rich physical movement education and nature-friendly relationship education, thus making good use of afternoon sessions. Third, it should be organized systematically to link the children's morning and afternoon activities and to better diversify the contents of the program. Arrangements for more than two qualified teachers in one class and development of varied full-day kindergarten programs for mixed-age classes are urgently needed for good quality full-day kindergarten education. We also urge that administrative and financial support from the government should be hastened to help working parents carry on with their duties without worrying about their young children's education and care, and ultimately to improve the low birthrate threatening our nation's future.

Recently, parents' demand for full-day kindergarten program has been increasing rapidly. This rising demand is caused by the structural changes in the social economy, the rise of the nuclear family, and the growing number of married women who are working. Although, full-day kindergarten classes have been spreading gradually based on the social demand, the lack of full-day programs or materials used by teachers and the low quality of full-day programs in the field is problematic. In this paper, we suggest effective ways to administer a comprehensive full-day kindergarten program that will satisfy young children's developmental, educational, and social needs as follows: First, it should complement young children's experiences that are currently insufficient due to their staying for a long time in kindergarten. Second, it should provide young children with an in-depth and expanded program, as well as rich physical movement education and nature-friendly relationship education, thus making good use of afternoon sessions. Third, it should be organized systematically to link the children's morning and afternoon activities and to better diversify the contents of the program. Arrangements for more than two qualified teachers in one class and development of varied full-day kindergarten programs for mixed-age classes are urgently needed for good quality full-day kindergarten education. We also urge that administrative and financial support from the government should be hastened to help working parents carry on with their duties without worrying about their young children's education and care, and ultimately to improve the low birthrate threatening our nation's future.