When to Send My Son to Preschool

HI M., My kids were 4, I was a SAHM They wanted to go at 4 so that's when I sent them, well 2 out of my 3 kids, my middle child did not want to go so i didn't send him, and he still transitioned into kinder with no problem. I did the mom and me with my first child from 2 years to 3 then at 4 put him in regular preschool. J.

At 2 years old... some venues call it "Preschool"... but at that age, it is not really "Preschool"... it is more play school.

From 3 years old... that is a good age for "Preschool."
BUT... go according to YOUR child... and your ideas on it.
Do NOT let your Mom... 'decide' for you. That is not her place.... at all.....

Boys... are different from girls.
They 'bond' with their mom differently and their maturity and emotional maturity is different... usually not as precocious as a little girl. Developmentally.

I have both a girl and a boy. My son is the youngest... he is now 4 years old. He is not in Preschool. My daughter was already, at that age. She ASKED us to go to school. She was ready..... and prepared already.
My son... well we can't afford it.
He is also, although very social and has friends and what not... is differently emotionally and maturity wise, than my daughter. I tried... taking him to a class and preschool... he got HYSTERICAL... and would NOT at all... enter the building nor the classroom. Even if it is where my daughter attended and he IS familiar with it, being that we'd take my daughter there all the time and he knew the set up and the Teachers, already.
He TOTALLY balks... at "school." His maturity is simply different.
But I do home school him.. and he is bright.

Our Pediatrician... his Nurse's kids, did not go to Preschool. Then they went to Kindergarten. She said they did FINE... academically and maturity wise, by then.

Yes, Preschool is a good transition for a child, to Kindergarten. And there are many benefits. My daughter learned a ton and enjoyed it.
My son, is different.
Each child being different.

So ultimately, go by your instincts... and what YOU feel is best.
Do NOT let your Mom... control this decision.
It should be a private matter... between you and your Husband. Only.

all the best,
Susan

It really is such a personal decision. We are waiting until our little guy is 3. He is at home now, but I want him to at least go PT to preschool, as I think that will help with the transition to kindergarten.

He is almost 2.5 now, honestly, he probably could go now. I think he would really enjoy the interaction with other kids, but I'm not ready to send him yet!!!!

I kind of hate preschool! It was hard for me....I didn't want to see them go, even if it was for just a small amount of time.

But it is good for them, they get to socialize, learn some stuff and play.

I didn't send my kids till they were 3 (sending them younger isn't even an option at most "preschools" in my area, you can send them to "daycare" earlier)...and would not have sent them any earlier! That is still 2 years of preschool before even starting K, which IMO, is plenty!

At 3 my kids go for 2 days a week from 9-11:30am
At 4 my kids go for 3 days a week from 9-11:30am

At 4 you have the option of putting them in Jr. K (which I did with my middle child because he is wicked smart and needed more stimuli) and that goes
4 days a week from 9-11:30am.

Yes a very personal family decision, but also varies by kid.

All three of my kids went to a Catholic Nursery school.
At age 3 they went 2 times a week for about 2 hours.
At age 4 they went 3 times a week for about 2 1/2 hours.
Kindergarten was half day.
It was more for fun (for me too!)
Yes it was expensive, but it suited our family's philosophy. I don't think kids HAVE to have a lot of preschool, after all what's kindergarten, a master's program? I also personally feel a lot of behaviora problems can be at least in part caused by 'too MUCH stimulation'.
That's just me.
Why not try it part time and see how it goes?

I believe it would depend on you and your child. I'm a working mom and all my children have been in daycare since they were 6 weeks old. In my experience, 2 year old classes are more about establishing routines, following rules and sharing. I think the part-time would help your son adjust to the environment at first. Preschool classes (depending on the school) can teach your child their letters, how to write...even some phonics. My son (now 12) could read by the time he was in Kindergarten because of his preschool class. He ended up jumping a grade. My oldest (now 18) and youngest (now 9) had the same type preschool classes, but the phonics didn't kick in until half-way through Kindergarten. I know money might be tight, but I think to take full advantage of what the preschool has to offer your child, you might want to consider more hours?

Visit the preschool and talk to other parents who have had their children attend there. Some preschools are just glorified daycares...if you know what I mean? Just my 2 cents

I think part of it depends on WHEN your child turns 3.

I would think that preschool at any age helps prepare kids for school. You can easily put your child in a mom and me "preschool" class that starts introducing him to story time (staying sitting and quiet), snack time (sitting in a chair, waiting his turn) and a simple craft. I don't think you need to spend a lot of money for 2 yr old preschool.

Then for ages 3 & 4 send him to regular, no mom, preschool.

We sent our kids to preschool at age 2. We could do only 1 day a week. It was mostly "playschool" at that age. Training them how to be away from mom, listen to teachers, wait their turn, share, sit still during story time and play with friends doing some simple crafts. My kids LOVED it. And I liked having a "sanity break" away from them to run errands unencumbered!

I think it depends on your child, their personality, and when their birthday is.

Where we are, the school district starts preschool at 3 - there was a class for 2 year olds called Hand-in-Hand, in which the parents attended with the child and stayed with them the whole time doing different activities, more of a "Mommy and Me" class. I did it with my DD last year when she was 2 and she was one of the younger kids in the class (the cut-off was Sept and her b-day is Aug.). This year she is in the 3 year old preschool class, which just happens to be with the same teacher and in the same classroom as her class last year - so it's already a familiar setting, she adores her teacher, and she is really enjoying it. Even though she is one of the younger kids in the class, she seems to be doing just fine. It is just 2 days a week, at 2.5 hours each day. Next year the 4 year old preschool is offered either 3 days or 5 days a week, half days.

When my daughter started the Hand-in-Hand class last year, she didn't really pay much attention to the teacher, she wanted to go off and play with toys rather than do circle time, etc. The other kids seemed more cooperative. I asked the teacher about it and she told me there is a big difference in kids who have just turned 2 (like DD) and those closer to 3. And now, a year later, I can totally see it. Which is why the age of your son, and when his birthday falls, could be a factor. I can't imagine that a classroom full of 2-year-olds without their parents is going to be very productive. The kids now at 3 and 3.5 (most of the kids from last year's class are in the same class as DD) are much better at listening, following directions, and staying with the group. I would wait until he is closer to 3 at the earliest before considering sending him to preschool alone. Otherwise you can look into Mommy-and-Me type classes for him now at this age. And I would agree with the idea that you should make these decisions based on how you feel and what would be best for your son - not what your mom believes.

I say three years old unless you see that her really needs socialization sooner.

It really depends on your goals for this preschool experience.. I took may kids to a public school based playgroup. We met in teh shcool.. had snack stories, songs, crafts... all in 1.5 hours twice a week.. I stayed with them.. we started when my kids were almost 2 and 4 months.. It was a wonderful experience for them.. play with new toys, new kids.. I got to interact with othe moms. My goal was to socialize them with the safety of me right there wth them.

My daughter just missed the kindergarden cutoff (It is december 1 in this state and her bday is dec 20) so I would have sent her to 3 year old preschool in sept.. when she was 3 almsot 4.. I would have sent her 2 short mornings a week.. Again the goal is to socialize with kids.. learn the rules of school, sharing taking turns, listening to the teacher.. beng comfortable away from mom..

I would suggest doing 2 morning per week preschool when your son is 3 (2 years before kindergarden) and 3 monring per week preschool when your son is 4 (the year before kindergarden)

keep in mind that the first year of preshool/ school or daycare will be the year of sickness and more sickness.. my kids were sick the entire school year. from october through march with colds.. nothing serious.. just constant colds.

why does your Mom want the baby in school so soon? 3 is plenty early and preschool is sjust for playing...