Do you think a 3.5 year old is ready to start kindergarden?

Question

I am a single mother who is spending most of her day with her 3 year old as i work from home,where i live children start `school` when they are 3 years old.Pre-kindergarden isnt obligatory but everyone puts their children here!Having talked with the teachers they say it is good for the childs saciability!!!Now am i wrong?3 years old are still far too young even fo half day at school!!!

Answer 1

yes in the UK they start nursery at the age of three practically as soon as they turn three

Answer 2

My daughter was 3.5 years when she started nursery... she absolutely loves it and is making a large group of friends.

It is good for a child to learn to interact with other children, and it extends their imagination, their vocabulary and helps them to adjust to full time education.

I don't think the problem is really whether to start  your daughter at school but more that you are not ready to let her go and allow her to become more independent.

She will benefit from this.

Answer 3

My son turned 3 in June and could have started preschool in September, but I didn't because I don't want to rush him.  While he is mentally advanced, emotionally he is still very much a 3yo.  We have decided to homeschool at least through elementary making my situation a little different, but when I started with preschool basics, I discovered my son is really ready for a lot of Kindergarten things!  So I have been frantically rearranging my curriculum and research kindergarten must-knows to incorporate.  If all goes well this school year, I have no doubt that my son would technically be ready for 1st grade as a 4yo!  Does that mean I am going to sign him up?  No, because again, his emotional age is still his chronological age.  But homeschooling does open that option up to challenging him in the areas that he needs them and allowing him to develop normally in the other areas.  And, I agree, my son would FREAK if he were in a classroom at a desk for a half day much less a FULL day!  He would instantly be tagged as ADHD and not because he has anything wrong but because he is 3 for crying out loud!

Your time home with your "baby" is precious and it is such a short time in the whole scope of things!  Enjoy it while you have it, whether you decide public, private or homeschool, things change all too quickly and they will be over and done with before you (and I!) know it!  Challenge your child in the areas that you see they need a little more, but let them just be 3 as well!  As far as the socializing thing - there are plenty of ways to "socialize" your child without resorting to preschool.  If you have family near, go to church, playgroups, the library, etc., your child will be around people of all ages and backgrounds and thus able to "socialize" at a radically advantageous level compared to duking it out with a bunch of other selfish 3yos and one adult all day!  Preschool is not required because if you stay home, you should be able to do those things with your child already.  Good luck and don't worry about what "everyone else does" - everyone else is not you in your situation with your child.  Research your options, try a few out and see what works best for you and your child!

Answer 4

he may be ready academically but emotionally he is still to immature. wait until at least four before pre k  and if he is used to being around mommy alot think about trying to get him used to being away from you. try him at a daycare if thats an option for you. that way you can start out small and work up to a full day.  If where you live is anything like where i live the kids in kindergarten have to know 80 different things and know cursive writing.

Answer 5

We used to take children at 2years 6months, at a Montessori Nursery School. So 3.5 yr old is more than ready for school !

Answer 6

your child really needs to socialize with other children and at 3 is well ready

Answer 7

My brother was in kindergarden when he was 3 or 3.5

I entered kindergarden when i was 4

I think he's/she's not young for kindergarden

Answer 8

Parents have been so duped into believing 'school is necessary' for their 3yr olds. The kids at this age are so into themselves,and discipline is a constant struggle in classrooms fro this age group. Why subject your child to whiny selfish kids (all normal behavior at this age) with one or two teachers in a room Go to play groups, church, enjoy your child at home. His/ her behavior will be so much better than the 'school' kids because she is not constantly competing for attention. If you must, a part day program a couple days a week. No more than that. Heck, school for 3 y olds is a new concept. Grandmas of the day were just fine w/o 'school' when they were 3.

Answer 9

Each child is an individual and there can be no hard and fast rule. I worked at a nursery that took children from 3.4 yrs. I would say 60% thoroughly enjoyed their morning session,10% tolerated it and the rest should have been at home with Mummy. However by the end of the first term 99% of the children loved their sessions. It depends on many factors, the premises, the staff, the child and the attitude of the parent

Answer 10

No because at three they still think the world revolves around them so being with other kids they will quickly grasp the concept of "others".

Answer 11

If you are asking whether or not your 3.5 year old should go to kindergarten then the answer is no.  That is kind of ridiculous to be considering as kindergarten is for children who are 5/6 depending on your state.  Maybe you meant pre-school in which my answer would be yes.  At 3 my daughter went to pre-school 3 days a week and loved it.  It was a great place to begin learning how we behave with other children in groups larger than play dates and helped to prepare her for elementary school and the inevitable full 5 days of separation.  If you are planning to home school than go with your gut and do what is right for you and your daughter.  There is not only one way to do these things.

Answer 12

maybe preschool because i wen to preschool when i was 4!

Answer 13

No they are more than ready. My little girl started nursery at 2 and a half and she loved it. I only sent her 3 days a week for the first year from 9am - 1pm.

Answer 14

Your child needs the company of other children and the chance to play independently away from you. If you don't send her soon, when she starts school it will be a terrible shock for her. She will find it much harder than her peers who have learnt the 'rules' of being a social person already. They will know how to make their own friends, your daughter may well feel confused and left out.

Sorry, but in my experience, the later you leave this, the harder it is for the child. You can't help her with this one, because she can only do it by being away from you. Children behave in a totally different way when they away from their parents.

one of the most important lessons in your whole life is learning how to be sociable and it's a life long learning experience.

Answer 15

Ur kid should have been in pre-school already but where am from children begin kinder garden at 4 or 5 years. 5 for the latest!

Answer 16

no, maybe preschool but definitely not kindergarten

Answer 17

no

take them to head start- or early childhood.

Answer 18

The public education system already robs our children of five sevenths of their lives for 13+ years. Your child can learn the same things they'd teacher her in pre-K from home, and the experiences will be much more meaningful. As for socialability, there is no reason why your child can't socialize at the playground or in play group or the library childrens programs, or anywhere else. PUBLIC SCHOOL IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO SOCIALIZE A CHILD!!!

Answer 19

I think 3 is just the perfect age to start kindergarden or pre-school.  A child needs to be socialised, and used to other children before the time comes to start school usually at age 5.  I work in a school and see many problems for children who do not know how to communicate well with other children or do not know how to share or resolve disputes, and often this comes from the children not having been socialised before they start school.

And anyway it is great fun for the children, they meet other children, play games, have new experiences, and kick start off their learning in a fun way.

And also the greatest benefit, time for mum to do something for herself, or  a few free hours just to get the housework done without distractions, I preferred the first option.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Answer 20

3 year olds need to learn to socialise

its very very important, especially in later life

i think the reason you dont want your child to go, is the fact that you have spent the last 3 and a half years being his/her sole carer and spending most of your time with the child

It would be good for both of you!

Dont look at it as school but more of a playgroup, your child will love it and make plenty of friends

Answer 21

3 is fine for preschool but not for kindergarten. . Preschool is a good place for a child to learn pre-academic skills and social skills. You may want to start with a 3 hour day 3 or 2 times a week, and then at 4 move it up to 5 days a week for 3 or 4 hours. Children who attend pre-school are more likely to transition to kindergarten easily, and have better academic skills over time.

Answer 22

Ask yourself, "Does your child have the attention span to stay on task in a classroom?" Most 3 year olds don't.

Answer 23

It would not be called kindergarten. It would be preschool, day care, nursery school, etc. Its a great idea for children to go to school. Get to socialize, experiance other children and they do learn alot.  3 years old is definatly not too young.

Answer 24

in my opinion as a preschool teacher it is better for the child to be in school as early as this because he/she will learn a lot through the different activities prepared by the teachers and of course they will know how to get along with others. how to be friends with somebody how to interact the will develop their social life at the same time their intellectual ability. through singing, memorizing etc..

Answer 25

Each child is different and there are many children that are capable of handling going to school when they are 3.5 years old.  In Canada, children enter Junior Kindergarten when they are 3.5 - 4 years old.  Some of the programs are half days and others are full day (every other day) and they allow the children to work on their socialization skills.  We often take for grants simple routines that children need to learn in order to be successful at school in later years, things such as: sharing, taking turns, listening attentively and cooperative learning.  At what age should children learn this things?  

In my opinion, 3.5 year olds are capable of learning many things and if given the opportunity will learn to adapt to most situations.  Kindergarten is not just "free babysitting" but a place where children interact together in  a positive and educational environment.

Answer 26

I have a 3.5 year old and i was thinking the same thing you was thinking i dont thinkso i think its time for pre k

Answer 27

A 3.5 yr. old is too socially immature for kindergarten IMO.