What is a good age to start preschool?

Question

My daughter has never been in childcare and I was thinking of putting her in preschool a few days a week to learn how to make friends, get used to a school setting, etc. She will be two yrs old soon. I was thinking of enrolling her somewhere between 2.5 and 3 years. What are the pros and cons of enrolling her at this age? Is this too soon? There are waiting lists for the preschool I chose for her, so I have to put myself on the waiting list now to get her in at 2.5 years.

Answer 1

It's nice that you are already considering the benefits of preschool.  :-)  If you do not need childcare, then I suggest you enroll her in an actual preschool program instead of a toddler room program. A three year old program is very nice for children since then they will get 2 years of preschool prior to Kindergarten. Usually a 3 year old program is less days per week and only 2-3 hours a day.  It's a nice introduction to the school setting and working with her peer group.  I usually recommend that you start a child at the beginning of a school year that she turns three in.  So, for us...school starts in September.  So if she's going to turn 2 soon (in the next couple months) then the next school year is a good choice for you.  If there is a waiting list...consider putting her on it for next fall instead of this fall.  Good luck!

Answer 2

2.5 years is too soon.  Have her begin at at 3.  The two's are so little, they just want to be with their Mom.  At age 3, they start to understand a little more about the world, and can handle being in a Preschool environment.  You aren't going to "gain" anything by having her in Preschool when she's 2.5.  Mom's who do that are just trying to get to the grocery store without the kid, and don't let them tell you any different.  What you do need to do, is talk to the Preschool.  Ask when you can register her for the 3 year old class.  Registration is usually in January or February for the upcoming September class.  Preschools don't tell you this, but you can register at more than one Preschool.  They have a non-refundable registration fee that you will lose if you don't sign up at their school.  But if you like more than one Preschool, and aren't sure where to send your daughter, you might be willing to lose the registration fee money in order to buy you some time in figuring things out.  Usually you want to stay with the same school throughout their Preschool years, so you are making a choice of school for her for the next 2-3 years.  

Answer 3

Ok in the preschool that I work for we have a 2, 3, and 4 year old preschool program. We offer half days for 2&3s but not the 4s. At this age the half day program would probably work better for your child. Usually after the first part of the day it is lunch, then nap, then recess for the rest of the day... at this age they will have plenty of time to play and make friends in the first part of the day. But after the first 2 years I would consider putting them in full day. It is better at that age. I would try to put your child in for the whole week at half days. That way they don't miss anything. What they learn in these grades will only help them with what they can expect from kindergarten. We use A Beka Curriculum and most of the children are reading and writing before they ever get out of K4 and into Kindergarten. They also know how to add basic numbers before kindergarten. I don't think it is too soon. A lot of parents put there children in daycare and preschool is so much better. They can learn there.  

Answer 4

The preschools in my town won't take students until age 3 and potty trained.  My boys have all gone to preschool for two years.  The first year, age 3, they went Tu and Th morning from 9:15-11:30.  The next year they went MWF.  Then off to kindergarten.  Age 3 worked very well for them.  They were old enough to work in small groups, follow directions, develop friendships, etc.  My children also never went to daycare.  If you really want the preschool that begins taking students at 2.5 years, enroll her and see how it goes.  She'll let you know in a couple weeks if it is too soon.