When Is Too Young for Preschool?

I am a preschool teacher at Kids First Learning Center and a mother to a 2 year old. No he is not too young at all. In my opinion he should have started younger. My daughter has been in preschool and sunday school since she was 4 months old. It was hard to leave her but I know it has helped her in the long run. Most of the kids in her classes now have a hard time being dropped off while she is playing and out of my arms before I can say bye. I would like her to cling a little but am glad she has learned to be ok without me. She not only plays well with others but she is learning to follow rules and to respect more than just me and her dad. I know it is hard but it is usually for the best to let them solve some problems on there own and learn to cope with change now than later. If you need anymore freindly advice or just to chat my e-mail is ____@____.com. I hope you can find a wonderful preshcool if you choose to take him. But even if you don't you are his mother and you will always know best.

In my opinion, I would start him now. That way he can develop social skills with other children and also learn more in the process. Children need to stay busy and by him going to preschool, he'll always have something to do, and he'll learn something new everyday. I have a neice who just started preschool Sept., she's only 3 and she loves it. She's been talking about school for the longest.

K.,
I'm not sure that I have enough information to give an opinion. For instance, do you work outside the home now? Are you thinking about a part-time preschool that's only a couple days per week?

I don't think it's ever too young to do preschool type activities. But, I don't believe a child that won't be in K. for 3 more years needs to be in a formal school setting for 8 or 9 hours per day if the mother isn't working.

It also depends on what type of school you intend to send him to. So many public school classrooms are illequipped to handle the children that come to school ahead of the pack. These teachers spend so much time trying to catch up the children that don't know anything, the smart kids get bored. I've sent a lot of my daycare kids to school knowing how to put together simple words, writing those same words, able to cut paper, glue, color, draw, listen to stories etc. And yet, many of these same kids have hated school later because they were not in the right environment for them.

Our oldest daughter was in school longer because her birthday is at the end of the year. I believe that being in school held her wild ways off just a bit longer and helped her to mature a little more before she was able to do any real damage to her life. Our second daughter turned 18 just before the end of her senior year. With her new grown up independence falling at graduation time, she was feeling her wild oats a little too much and made a very huge mistake that she will be paying for a very long time. Maybe timing had nothing to do with it. But I personally want to keep them at home and in school for as long as possible. 18-20 is a difficult time period in a persons life.

If you send your son early, he may be bored. If he moves up to a higher grade because he knows a lot, he will graduate early. Everyone has their own ideas on this. But I think they have plenty of time to grow up.

Also.. Are you more concerned about his social skills or his academic ones? You could find a happy medium. How about finding a daycare that offers preschool only an hour or so a day or a few hours per week? Then your son can have a family apmosphere without having to fall behind academically.

Suzi

DEAR K., I AM NOT TRYIN TO SOUND SILLY BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS STATE REQUIRED THAT A CHILD HAD TO BE AT LEAST 3YRS OF AGE BEFORE THEY COULD ATTEND PRESCHOOL. AND EVERY ONE I HAVE EVER TALKED TO THE CHILD ALSO HAD TO BE POTTY TRAINED. IF YOU FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR HIM, I SAY GO FOR IT. JUST DO YOUR RESEARCH WHEN CHOOSING A SCHOOL. I HOPE YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.

He normally would start preschool at 3 1/2 to 4. Get him enrolled if you can. It is only organized play time if you do it through a daycare center. Try to get him into head start.

Good Luck!

are you kidding? threy have daycares tht specializxe in babies atleast 6 weeks old. email me sometime. ____@____.com

3 is the normal age for preschool, and no you're not making him grow up too fast. My son started when he was 3, and has loved it, and it has helped him a lot, although he has a developmental disability, and your child doesnt. Even so, whatever problem he is having, they will do whatever they can to help him overcome it. The schools provide the therapy and being around all the kids his own age will help even more so. I would really recommend sending him as soon as possible, he'll love it, and it will help him out so much, and it's really all worth it when he starts bringing home projects and papers for you to enjoy and show what he is learning! :)

Hi,K.
My oldest son had speech problems when he was little and it was a blessing to have him in a decent preschool.( I was his "interpreter"! Some days he sounded German, Chinese and then Dutch~it's all developmental!) I had to work f/t back then, so I didn't have much choice. It helped him , in terms of social skills, and learning the basics. I wish I could of stayed home with him, though. His speech issues were all resolved, until he ended up having a s.t. for a few months in 3rd. grade for "r" and "l".
Long story short, find a preschool that knows how to handle your little guy, with his needs, make sure they pay attention to him, find a preschool where they really love children and know how to handle discipline in a way you agree with. Have it be a p/t thing if possible, until K, when it's a full day. Our youngest is 4 and will be 5 in November. He's a pre-K program in Springfield m/w/f mornings~ at Schweitzer Methodist "GRow to Know" Preschool. I highly recommend them,it's a small friendly environment and the teachers are loving and kind and see our kids as neat little individuals who are learning all the time. They provide a nice balance of knowledge of the world and basic skills with an understanding of a loving God. Good Luck with the speech thing, I know how scary it was for me.

I am a firm believer in preschool. I started both of my kids when they were two and a half years old. Now I didn't send them all day like daycare, when they were 2 1/2 they went two days a week from 9:15-11:45 and at 3 1/2 they went five days a week during the same hours and then the same schedule at 4 1/2. They both loved preschool, my son is still in preschool, but my daughter is now in kindergarten. she is very well adjusted and in some ways ahead of the kids that only went for one year of preschool. Preschool teaches them so many important things, like how to be social, sharing, caring, play in groups and one on one. It also gives you a few hours a day to relax. I find that when I get some alone time, I in turn am a much better mom. Good luck!

I think it is up to the mom and what they feel is best for their child. I put my kids in preschool the year before kindergarten. Now that we are caring for our grandson (4 in Dec, starts school at 6 yrs)we take him to the YMCA every weekday where he is with his age group for 3 hrs in a daycare/prechool environment and I also homeschool him some each day and I'm teaching him computer skills. He is so ready to learn and I have the time being retired and we both enjoy it. Next fall he will go to preschool full time. I think you should put them into a learning environment at whatever age they apear eager to learn. I don't think 3 is too young if you think he is ready, you know him better than anyone. Go with your own gut feeling. Good luck.

I don't think your wrong to want to wait. Actually I would wait until he is 4 years old and there is a program there the school system (R12) called "Wonder Years". You can call and ask about because in the spring they test and sign kids up. Both of my granddaughters have participated in this program. One of my granddaughters is now 6 years. The other is 4 years and is in the Wonders Years program now. My son was shy and had a speech problem when he was young and didnot speak until he was 3 years old. He did not speak until he went to speech class at SMSU Speech Language and Hearing Clinic. He is now 19 years and you wouldnot know it if you didnot know him. I hope this helps you. It never hurts to be concerned for your children and want the best for them. Best of luck to you.

Enroll him! He's at a perfect age to get him involved with other children, and especially with his speech, you will be amazed at how much he learns just by being around the other kids. Even in a few weeks you'll notice a difference in his speech. Don't worry about him getting too much of an education and being too far ahead. He's 3, I mean they color and play with other kids and make crafts, and that is something that can not be started too early!

K.,

I have 2 very precious girls. 7 y/o ShaeLynn and 6 month old Sharen. When ShaeLynn was 18 months we learned she had Cerebral Palsy. So, therefore she started school when she was three. She is now 7 1/2 and in the 1st grade. She was born in May of 1999 however wasn't due until July of the same year. Ask your occupational and physical therapists what they think. With him having some delays it would probably be betteer if you were to start him as soon as possible to help him catch up with kids in his age group. if you need any other questions answered e-mail me at ____@____.com.

Preschool in my opinion is organized play time. It's a good way to get kids ready for kindergarten. And any more with as much as kids are expected to know in school I think it's a good idea to start them as soon as they're old enough to go to preschool. My boys loved going to preschool, it made them feel like big boys. Your mom might be a little right, but there's nothing wrong with wanting your son to stay little for just a little longer. They grow up so fast.

My daughter's bday is in Aug and when she was that age, I waited until Jan to start her. If you could wait until after the holidays, that might be better? (He'd be a little older) I don't really know. I suppose it's up to you if YOU think he's ready or not. If you think he needs more socialization, then go ahead. A couple of hours of structured preschool time can't hurt him. It's been my experience that in a 3's class, they don't do a whole lot of academics yet. It's more for the social skills at that point. If he's in daycare, maybe it's not necessary. When my older was that age, she was home w/ me ALL the time and I felt she needed that interaction w/ other kids.

Remember, it is up to you... just make sure if you say he's too young it's because you truly think he isn't ready... not that YOU aren't ready. They all grow so fast and we have to accept it. Believe me, my older is 7 and my younger is 4. I can't believe how the time flies and yes, I did cry on both their 1st days of school. But that's just being a mommy who loves her kids!

Good luck...
~K.

K.: First of all you know your child best so in your heart you will make the decision that is best for all of you. To put my two cents in, we started our son in preschool at the age of 2 1/2. It seemed young but if you find a good preschool program then you would be amazed at how much they learn and I don't just mean academics. It's social learning, group playing, manners, etc. My son loved every minute of preschool even at that age. I loved it so much I started teaching there! I actually taught kids who came in the program at age 1 but usually turned 2 by the time it ended for summer. We taught basic things like colors, counting, learning to sit still for books, waiting turns to wash our hands, sign language. So look into the preschool program and get a full understanding of what they teach and then decide. I personally believe that it is good for our kids to get a different perspective than just their parents all day everyday. I hope everything works out for you!

My daughter is 3 years old as well. She also has speech problems. She attends preschool and LOVES it. She would stay all the time if I let her. It has helped with the speech as well. She hears her friends at school talk and she learns the correct way to pronunciate- in most cases. She has also become much more social. It has greatly benefited her. However, I would do what you think is best for your child. Good luck!

Hello my name is T. and my son Noah (will be 3 in Jan, so he will also start school at 6) started his first day at preschool today. I have had a harder time with this than he is, called and everything is going well. He needed to be with kids his own age (they are even a bit older) so that he could continue to learn and find new friends to play with. He is only going part-time for now. He also has a home care provider the rest of the time with his baby sister (now 6 months old). He became the oldest child with our home care sitter this year and needs to be challenged, other kids are almost a full year younger than he is. So, even though I was reluctant at first, I would rather do it now then wait until he turns 3, that way he gets in at the start of the school year and gets to know the other kids that he will eventually go to school with.
T.

My son is in early intervention through Spice/Marc program because he is delayed in a couple areas. As soon as he turns three, the program ends and he will go into Unit 5. I also have the same problem you do as far as not wanting to put him into school so young. I want him to go to so he won't lose any of the progress he has made so far. It's like a pre-prekindergarden and it is only half days. I think it will be a good thing. I hope that helps. =)

well my oldest son started at age 3 and im glad i did cause he is really good in school right now & on my younger 2 i didnt start them until kindergarten and now i regret it cause i can tell a difference i really can both of them have been struggling since they started school and even been held back a year so i would say 3 is a good age ecspecially now a days.

My daughter's b-day is in November too and she started preschool this time last year on the brink of age 3. Now at 3 going on 4, she still loves it. She only goes 2 times a week for 2.5 hours and I think that is just right (for her). As she gets closer to kindergarten we will add more days to her schedule to prep her for being in class every day of the week.

I say go for it, even if your son has a few bad days. Not all kids are able to jump into preschool without having a few negative reactions (missing his family, being on his own, or just having a bad day). Just keep him going and I think you'll find that he really enjoys himself and being around new friends.

And, not all preschools are organized play time. My daughter gets a great education with many different ways of learning (singing, computer, art, play, etc.), so just find the right place for you and your son.