I don't want to enroll my 2.5 yo in school yet!

[Rosebud1]

My DD is 2.5 years old, and it seems all of her friends are being enrolled in Preschool for this Fall. She is a December birthday, and just seems so young to be in an organized program. I can't imagine doing this until she is at least three and a half or so. Anyone else feel this way?

Is 2 and a half the new 4? : )

[CookAMH]

Wow, that is so early! I feel the way you do.

[MommaShark]

I'd wait until she's 4 - or you'll have 3 years of preschool! there's always a playgroup...(i'm a prek teacher here and there)

[Vancouver Mommy]

I hear ya. I can barely think about my 5yo starting kindy this fall. We never did preschool.

[whatsnextmom]

I wouldn't do it unless you think it's the best fit for your kid. I didn't send my first until the year prior to kindie. She was an older 4 and still only went 2 short mornings a week. Great for her. I sent DS a couple months prior to his 3rd birthday because he needed more social interaction than we could give him (and I mean, constant interaction.) Preschool was fantastic for him though he never went more that 3 mornings a week.

I just finished a year teaching 2's and 3's. There were a handful who thrived, were ready AND had PARENTS that were ready (typically those who also had older children too.) Most I just wanted to send home with their parents for another year.

[peaceful_mama]

What's the rush?! I think one year is plenty for most kids. (the exception being probably some children with special needs who also receive therapy and take more time to become accustomed to new environments, or are delayed and will benefit from the help to 'catch up')

You don't get this time back with your child, enjoy it!

[elmh23]

Then don't! I sent my daughter to full day pre-K at four, but before that she was home. She's at the same place academically and socially as the other children in her class that have been in preschool for since they were 2.

[MsBirdie]

we have not done preschool with either child, and they are fine. DD is head of her class in 2nd grade.

[hotmamacita]

Originally Posted by Rosebud1

My DD is 2.5 years old, and it seems all of her friends are being enrolled in Preschool for this Fall. She is a December birthday, and just seems so young to be in an organized program. I can't imagine doing this until she is at least three and a half or so. Anyone else feel this way?

We never enrolled our children in preschool.

[Emmeline II]

My first started school (K) at 5.5; academically his teacher said at the beginning of the year that there wasn't much that he didn't already know. The only reason I'd like to send my second to pre-school is because she would really like to go and I think she'd do well but it's too expensive, so she only goes to dance class once a week.

[uncertain]

DS was 2 months shy of 4 years old before he went to preschool. 2.5 yrs is way too young, IMO!

[St. Margaret]

A friend sends her son, for free, b/c he has some special needs, and is a super-adventurous kid, and MAN she needs a break from chasing him all day. But we don't send DD and she's 3. People started asking us if we'd start sending her to school since she was barely 2. I always just looked shocked at them . Preschool at that age is for art projects that don't mess up your home, IMO DD goes to the park with friends a few times a week and events at the library and gets outside daily, we sing and read all day... why pay if I don't want to?

[Tigerchild]

My kids all went at 3, but enjoyed it.

If you don't want to send your kid, then don't. But just because she might not enjoy it doesn't mean that other kids won't either.

3 is the standard year to send kids to preschool here.

If your kid's friends are a little older than her, they may be 3 by the fall. So that doesn't seem weird to me to be honest. And you do have to register for many preschools early in the year if you want your child to attend in the fall.

[henny penny]

Most quality preschool programs try to emulate an enriching home environment, so keep her at home if that feels right to you. Arrange a playdate once or twice a week for socialization and fun. That's our preschool program until kindergarten!

[ShadowMoon]

DS is 3.5 and we haven't started preschool either. I'd like to keep him home as long as I can. We have a lot to teach him before he starts school

[zinemama]

My kids started half-day, 3days/week preschool at 3.5. It was the perfect age for them and they loved it. So did I. I really needed the break.

2.5 seems young.

[cedoreilly]

2.5 is a little young if you ask me. I did not start my oldest two until they were four because I did not feel they were ready at 3. My middle boy started right after he was 3 but he is special needs and I was sending more for speech/OT services than anything else. I am sending my youngest at 3.5 in the fall. I question if he is really ready but I got him into the program I wanted him in (the school my middle boy was in) and getting kids in at 4 is really hard at that school.

[Tigerle]

The topic happened to come up in another context in a recent preschool conference we had. The teachers seemed to feel that most under-threes are not developmentally ready to really profit from the program (granted, this is a mixed-age 3-6 class we were talking about). I imagine that only a very few kids are ready verbally, socially and emotionally at 2.5 (can hold conversations, play cooperatively, enjoy a group, handle the separation etc). But I know a 2.5 year-old who's recently been enrolled and who loves it! By three I imagine many are, by 3.5 most are (our DS appears to have taken some social and emotional steps only recently -like with other developmental stuff, it isn't there and then one day suddenly it is.)
If you feel your child isn't ready, she probably isn't.

[HipGal]

I think it totally depends on the child. I enrolled ds when he was 2 1/2 in a coop preschool (once per week and I was with him the whole time). I can't say he really got much out of it. Though it was nice to have playdough, painting projects and other messy stuff that I didn't have to clean up (unless it was my turn! LOL).

My dd went at the same age and loved it. She is much more social and has fun with lots of kids around. She went half days M-F, and her big brother was in class with her (mixed age preschool class).

If I had it to do over again, I probably would cut out a lot of activities we did when the kids were really little (gymboree, music together, etc.) and put them in a savings account for now when there are activities that they want to do. I think they had enough fun experiences with free playdates and activities at home before age 4 or so.

[eepster]

DS started preschool at 2 1/2 yo. One of his friends is just going to be starting this year (they will both be 4 1/2 yo this fall.) While they do have a lot in common, age (obviously,) very sensitive, etc, they are different kids and have different needs.

I realized DS was really ready for and needed something when he inserted himself into a kindergarten class on a field trip one day while we were at the zoo. Also, DS has had a very high need for stimulation since he was a couple of months old. I was really worn out trying to meet DS needs for learning. Also I have never been good at the whole play-date/play-group thing. I thought we would both be happier people if DS got some extra activity and regular socialization.

I took him to an open house at a preschool when he was 2 yo and he really wanted to go. So I spent that spring and summer looking for a place that fit our needs. The fall he was 2 1/2 yo, he started school at a nice Montessori school with a modified toddler program for 2 1/2 yo.