When Do Kids Start Preschool?

Preschool: Is It Time?

It’s that time — you think your little one might be ready to take the plunge into the wonderful world of preschool! Some folks can feel a bit overwhelmed when trying to decide if the time is right — after all, there are so many different factors to consider: What age is the best for little ones to start? Are they physically ready, but not emotionally ready? What about their social skills? The short answer is that there is no 100% clear answer, because each child is different! While generally two-and-a-half to three-years-old is considered the age most little ones begin preschool, it really does depend on the child in question; because each little one is unique! There are some general considerations you can make when analyzing whether or not your little one is ready for preschool, though! 

One of the biggest challenges little ones face when they first begin in-person or homeschool preschool is separation anxiety. No matter how many shapes or letters your little one may know, being away from you for an extended period of time may be really difficult! If you’re noticing that your little one gets really upset every time they’re away from you, it might be a good idea to hold off on starting preschool, and try introducing a softer form of separation into their life. You can try scheduling a visit to the preschool so your little one isn’t as scared on their first day there, or find an enrichment class that lasts for a much shorter time than preschool so that your little one can get used to the feeling of being away from you.

Another good metric for testing whether or not your little one might be ready for preschool can be observed by watching them play — especially with other children! When they’re little, lots of children like to parallel play, which basically means that your little one might play alongside other little ones rather than with them. While this is totally normal and isn’t something to be concerned about, when children near readiness for preschool, they tend to begin interacting more and more with other little ones their age. If you notice your little one isn’t participating in this as much, it may be a good idea to wait until they are able to interact socially with other young ones before they start either in-person or homeschool preschool!

Potty training is often a big concern for parents who want to enroll their little ones in preschool. If your little one isn’t potty trained, it may not actually be a deterrent for enrollment depending on the program you’re looking into! Some in-person preschools are happy to have little ones who are not yet potty trained. Nevertheless, if your little one is potty trained, that’s a great sign of any preschool readiness! Similarly, naptime is something to consider when seeing if your little one is ready for preschool. Preschools generally have naptimes built in for little ones, but it’s good to observe how well your little one might sleep in places other than home, especially if you aren’t opting for homeschool preschool. If they are having trouble sleeping and become restless or cranky as a result, it could be a good time to have a check in about whether it’s time for preschool. 

Just as important as age is how your little one is developing physically and emotionally! Are you noticing they’re building up strength in their motor skills? Can they handle playground equipment? How does your little one feel when they encounter a tough task? Are they curious about the world around them and persistent in their learning? These are all signs that your little one is developed enough to begin their early learning experience!

There really are so many factors to consider when trying to decide if your little one is ready to take part in preschool or even homeschool preschool. By consulting this list, though, you can keep an eye out for signs that it’s time to enroll!  Try Our Online Preschool for FREE! Playgarden Prep offers numerous educational videos from real teachers, and numerous DIY projects that support early learning and development.