Too Young to Start Preschool?

I taught preschool for 3 years...I noticed that 2 1/2 was a difficult age to start school. I taught that age and we were faced with that often. It is difficult, but usually doesn't last long and the teachers may get tough with him after a few days of lots of crying. In most cases the teacher are not being uncaring, but it gets to the point that the child is making the choice to cry and he/she has to decide does he want to cry, or want to play. If you have the option you may wait until he's 3 and really get him geared up with a new backpack and some really cool 'school shoes' and make it sound exciting! He's probably still going to cry, but it shouldn't be as difficult for both of you. If you really want to send him now-you will have to be strong, you can cry when you get to the car. I'm sure he will adjust, it just may be a bit more difficult. I will say I think the lady who runs the daycare did a stinky thing to you, changing her mind about taking him part time after you had him set to go there. You may find somewhere else, I know its hard to search centers but it may give your son the time he needs to get ready to go to preschool.

My older four kids had to always go to daycare, some went before they were 6 wks old so I never had the luxury of being home with them. I was married to an underachiever. Anyway, now I am remarried to a wonderful guy who works hard so I can be home with our two sons and older four. My youngest two only stay with my close friends and it is so rare that I am sad when I have to go to an AVON meeting and leave them, but I put on a happy face for them. Your son is feeding off your sadness and tears. It sounds like you are not ready to put him in school yet, so why make both of your lives miserable?

C.,

My MIL has kept my children since they were 6 weeks, and my youngest since he was 4 wks. It was their ideal to keep them and not but them in a day care or even a preschool when that age arrived. I guess it depends on if your parents enjoy keeping their grandchild or want their free time. The only reason I would have enrolled mine in preschool would have been if they were not being taught anything at home i.e. things they would learn in preschool like their colors, shapes, alphabet and etc. My MIL has done and excellent job at working with them and my 5 year old wasn't behind when she started school last year. She was actually ahead of the curve knowing her alphabet and the sounds they made and she was actually taught things that weren't even in the K-5 curriculm. I would make sure he/she is being taught at home and leave him where he is. Provided he gets means of interacting with other children at church or playgroups.

If you really feel he's struggling, I'd wait another year. People will tell you that they get used to it and do fine - and I'm sure they do. However, I tried to put my daughter in preschool at about that age and she was miserable - we were all miserable. We gave up after a week. She has started again at 3 and loves it - there is no comparison. I'm so glad we waited because I feel good about taking her. It's still a little scary for her, but she can talk about it and has a really good time there.

Do what you feel is best for your son. I put my son in school when he was 2 months shy of 2 1/2 years. He had a difficult first day, maybe even a difficult first week, but he was fine from there on out. Initially he only went 3 days a weeks (consecutive days) from 7:45-2:45 (the full day for his school). In January I put him in school full- time because he LOVED it so much. I'm sure your son will adjust just fine. My son had only stayed with myself or my parents (whom we live with) so he had no experience with other adults or children. The biggest thing is that you have to keep it together. If he senses that you are upset or if you cry, he's going to respond with the same feelings. When you go to drop him off, say goodbye, let him know that you are going to come back, and get out, even if he's crying his little heart out. The longer you stay, the harder it will be for him to adjust to being with his teachers. It's hard, but in the end, it will work out (trust me, if my momma's boy can cut it, yours can too, lol) Good luck to you!

When my twins were 2 and 1/2 years old, I tried sending them to a 3hrs a day classroom environment. They were clearly not ready to be separated from me. I pulled them out and 6 months later, now they are going to a summer camp and enjoying it. Six small months have made a big difference in their behavior, esp their independence. I am glad I waited another 6 months. I believe in smooth transitions from home to school and at 3, I know they are ready and more curious about other children and the outside world than they were at 2 and 1/2 years. They don't cry when I drop them off and they verbalize a lot more and tell me about their routine at camp.

I would say, if both of you are being miserable about it, don't hurry sending your daughter to school. Enjoy her company at home for another few months. Just make sure that you plan plenty of activities for her to enjoy and learn from. Look into homeschooling for a few months. Or send her to a community center day care for a few hours every other day.