Is my child ready for preschool? Am I?

I like to do my homework and put in my fair share of research, so when my first child was about to reach his second birthday, I already started looking around for a preschool. My intention was to get him in at age 3. My plan was to try out two schools that came highly recommended. Both had toddler programs that kids could enroll in on a month by month basis.

The first school I chose to try was the one nearest our home. My toddler would be there three times a week for two hours a day. To me, that was just enough to test the waters.

How did he fit in? After a few days of tearful goodbyes to mom and cautious hellos to teacher, he took to his toddler class like fish to water. The trial turned out so well that, he was officially in preschool as early as 1 year and 8 months old – not age 3 as I had planned. We never even got around to trying the other school.

Should your own child enter school this early? It was good for my son, but not all children and situations are the same. I’m sharing some research to help you figure out when is the ideal time for your own child.

Child development expert Anna Jane Hays, author of the book Ready, Set, Preschool! believes children should already be part of a school routine no later than age 3 or 4. She says, “It’s just too valuable of a beginning, now that we know children are capable of learning at such an early age. The consensus is ‘the sooner, the better’ in regard to a structured opportunity for learning.”

Many studies show that those who attend preschool are better prepared to succeed in their academic life, all the way up to college. The Carnegie Foundation has done a landmark study that concludes: children who engaged in early education programs are not just more likely to finish college – they also end up healthier and happier than those who didn’t.

This is all quite impressive to me, but my main concern for my then 1 year old was to make friends and get comfortable with more people outside mom, dad and home. Experts agree that socialization should be the main thrust of preschool. It should also teach one very crucial lesson – that learning and school is fun.

If you decide to take the trial and error route like I did, preschool educator Joanne Estes has some advice: “If the child has not mastered the basic group routine in one to two months, he may not be ready to participate in a preschool program.” A few tears and trepidation is normal in the beginning, but if your child takes this long to adjust – then re-asses when to start school at a later time. Consider also if the school environment itself might have been the problem.

In the meantime, provide your child with varied experiences to get him ready for his future academic life. Play time, story sessions, going on trips or joining play groups where he can interact with other kids can be sufficient until the school age of 4.

A friend of mine on our play group circuit knew that her friendly, precocious child was ready as early as 2. She put it off because she says, “I wasn’t ready!” Until her child entered preschool at age 4, she was his full-time playmate and teacher at home. Being a full time mom gave her this option and it worked out well for them.

As for me, I was juggling home life and work. The toddler classes gave me the assurance that a few hours a week when I wasn’t around, my child was getting quality play-and-learn time with good teachers and a merry band of little classmates. This worked out well for us.

You are ultimately the foremost expert on your child, pay attention to his cues and you’ll know when he’s ready. School is a big step and mama better be ready as well!

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