Preschool - what age?

[DMickey28]

What age to kids tend to start preschool?

DS is One, he just turned one. When should I start looking into this?? We live in S. Florida. DS will either be going to a private school or homeschooled (most likely private) unless we move before 1st Grade.

Thanks ... there are some things that I am completely clueless on!

 

[ilisao]

My kids both started preschool when they were 2. They were private preschools. I know in DDs case we had the application in before her 2nd birthday because of the deadlines.

 

[akhenaten]

mine started at about 2 and a half......

it was a two year program....so they went 2 years before the kindergarten cut off......

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hi! I am also a south floridian (3rd generation native Miamian, actually!)

I think that, unless you have to (and I am not criticizing anyone who has to) it is best to start preschool at 3 years or beyond. Anything before that is pretty much just daycare. I put my DD in a preschool 3 days a week, for 3 hours a day at age 3, (she was actually a few months shy of 3 years old, but started prek3 in fall, turned 3 in December.) For prek4 she also went 3 days a week, 3 hours a day. We kept her at that school for elementary, and they just added a middle school, so I am happy! It is a small private christian school. Feels like family, she has been with many of the same children since prek3. I find it is hard to feel a sense of community in S FL, and I really feel it there. BTW, she is finishing 3rd grade, getting ready to start her 7th year at that campus!

Anyway, just sharing what has worked for us. Not sure what others do. HTH!

 

[DMickey28]

Thanks Wilderness.

So my DS turns two next April. Should I start thinking about sending him in Sept. 2009 when he is 2.5 or Sept. 2010 when he is 3.5?

I don't have plans on going back to work anytime soon however I do welcome the idea of a few hours a week to myself. I guess either would work huh? Seems more like Sept. 2009 would be better at 2.5.

 

[mamacatnv]

DS went to preschool at age 4 1/2 for 1 year then to private full day Kindergarten.

DD never went to preschool, she went to private full day Kindergarten when she was 6.

Both kids were in home daycare situations part time prior to entering school.

 

[HollyJoy]

I think age 3 is the norm... at least that's when my girls started.

 

[Aliceacc]

My older 2 started at age 3.

I was president of the school board of the nursery school, and was there a LOT when my youngest was little. Sometimes she would join the 2 year old class when I was at a board meeting. Plus, with the older 2 in school all day and not many young kids on our block, she was a bit bored at home. So I started her at age 2. But she had no separation issues-- she was under the impression that it already was "her school" because of all the time she spent there with me.

All other things being equal, my answer would be 3 for most kids.

edited to add: Also, for many schools, acceptance hinges on the kids being potty trained. I was never in a rush to train mine, so ages 3 and 3.5 worked well for me.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I agree that I would not want to feel like I had to start my child to young.

And, I wanted to say that it also depends on the child.
Some are more equipped and develop earlier than others.

My son went to a program that was two days a week, (9:00 - 2:00) a mother's day out preschool. He would not have been able to handle more than that. I found out later that the reason why is that he has a disability.

Some three year olds are more developmentally and socially ready, and they might love it and thrive on it! Begging to go every day.

1. Make the decision that your mother's intuition tells you is best for your child.. not what everyone else feels you must do. Take the cues from your child.

2. Make sure that your child is in a very good program that you feel comfortable with. I can tell by your hopes to private school or homeschool that you would definitely do this!

3. The good programs are often booked up in advance. It couldn't hurt to start looking at your options so that you can be ready to get on their list well before you want your child to actually start.

 

[aprilvaca04]

for the preschool I work in they have to be atleast 3 years old and completely potty trained.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Dmickey-as someone mentioned, potty training is one big issue. I know sometimes boys can be slower with that. If you can get him potty trained, you can do the 2.5 age. The 3 days a week worked for me...plus we have a great aftercare system...you can just decide to let them stay the very same day. Like, sometimes, I would go to pick her up and she was sad to leave, so i would ask her..."do you want to stay and play?" If she said yes (and she usually did) I could let her stay for $5 an hour. That was more play time/arts and crafts, not "learning." Also, if I had a doctor's appointment or whatever, I let her know in the morning she would be staying longer.

The elementary still has this aftercare program (but it is $7 an hour) and I love it...in case I am stuck in traffic or whatever, I can just call the school and let them know to tell her she will be staying longer. She is an only child, so she LOVES it and complains when I pick her up!

Anyway, my point is, you may want to look for something with this option, as it was very liberating for me!

 

[sunlover13]

My DD's preschool has classes for 3 yr olds, 4 yr olds, then a pre-K for those that just miss the cutoff.

DD went to preschool for 2 years. She was 3 yrs old, almost 4, so she started in the 4's. This year, she is 5 and is in pre-K.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I don't have plans on going back to work anytime soon however I do welcome the idea of a few hours a week to myself. I guess either would work huh? Seems more like Sept. 2009 would be better at 2.5.

Ohhh, I totally get the motivation!!!
It is sooooo hard to not have that break and adult time!!
I don't live near family, and I was in that 24/7 situation.

In this case, it is not really about 'pre-school', but about part time day care.
However, if you are concerned with a good pre-school to prepare your child for Kindergarten, then you will want to consider the pre-school program so that your child moves up thru the ranks in the same familiar setting, with many of the same kids, etc... from age 2.5 to 5.5. So, yes, the preschool program offered is a good consideration.

Like I just posted before, if your child is good with it, then I see no reason why a part-time mother's day out program would not be okay.

Again, I would start looking around now.... talk to every other parent for their input... actually drop in some places... Look at things like caretaker-child ratio's, how relaxed and friendly, how well organized, professional, etc.. Many of these programs will definitely have their own 'feel' to them. Many are probably better than others.

This way, when the time comes, you will be ready and your child will be on their list!

 

[Northstar]

Maybe you could look into nearby programs, finding out what ages the good ones (the ones you'd be comfortable sending your child to) take in? I mean, I might have sent my daughter before 3 if there had been a really good program for 2-year-olds near me. But as it was, we found a good playgroup instead and I think she got just as much benefit from that once-a-week in the church basement as she would have from a preschool...

And the potty training thing is important! DD used to call it her PEEschool because she couldn't pronounce her Rs, but there were a whole lot of accidents that made the name pretty appropriate. I know a lot of the kids were in secret pull-ups. The school's policy was pretty firm... we don't help kids in the toilet!

 

[Mickey Fliers]

All my boys went to Pre-K at 3. So, if your son has an April birthday, I would send him in Sept. 2010, at 3.5. This way he has 2 years of Pre-K before starting Kindergarten.

The potty training issue is a big one. Most private Pre-k's won't take a child that is still in diapers (at least where we have lived).

Best of luck! Take is slow, the time (sadly) will be gone before you know it.

 

[lil mermaid]

I guess it all depends on what your reasons for preschool are. Madeline started a Mothers Day Out program at our church when she was about 16 months old. She went once a week for three hours. I mainly did it because I am a SAHM and needed some child care for things like haircuts, dentist, dr. appointments, etc. We don't have any family here and at the time I didn't have any one else to leave her with, EVER. I felt so so guilty about it. She did great from the start though, and has been at that school ever since and she is almost 4. Now that she is older, it is more like preschool.

This year she goes Tues and Thurs from 9-2 and next year she will go MWF from 9-2.

Not sure when I will start Joey but I don't plan to send him next year. Maybe the year after, I will put him in a one day program.

Anyway, as another poster stated, a part time MDO program would be okay, if you can find a good one. Do they have them at the churches in your area?

 

[DLBDS]

My DD10 started when she was 3 at a local (private) Montessori school. The school day was from 8:30-12:00.

 

[cats7494]

Very timely question - my daughter is 2 and will start pre-school this upcoming fall. She will go twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays – from 9:30-11:30. She does not need to be potty trained where we are going and in fact they will work with her, as needed.

It definitely depends on the child. My daughter is very social, has no separation issues, and loves learning new things - so pre-school is perfect for her at the age of 2.
She needs the socialization with other kids her age at this point. She is not around many kids her age because during the week, she goes to my mom's house for 5 hours a day for daycare while I am work, she is with me for 3 hours of the day, and the rest of the time she is with our entire family. (Dad, big sister, and me) She is only around other kids her age at church twice a week and at a music class once a week.

Good luck in deciding - you know your child the best!

 

[LisaNJ25]

My younger 2 are starting in the fall. They will be turning 3 and 4 right before school starts. Normally I would wait until they were 4. My public school has a half day pre-school program. My 8 year old attended that one. My teenage did not attend pre-school.

My younger 2 need to get away from each other and play with other kids. The 4yo will go half day 5 days a week and my 3yo will go half day 2 days a week.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Both of mine started preschool at 2 because I wanted them to start socializing. They went 2 days a week for 3 hours a day and loved it. I think the learning was basically ABC's 123's and crafts. It was a small church preschool with about 12 children in the class.