Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
When to Start Preschool | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Needlman,
My daughter is 2-1/2, and I am researching preschools. She is a bright, cooperative child, and we go to a playgroup three or four times a month. I have signed us up for a Mom and Tot group too, which starts next week. I have found a NAEYC accredited preschool, which I will go and observe next week. My question is: Should she go to one or two years of preschool? My concern is for her socialization skills. I want her to be comfortable and confident, and I thought if she went this year, she would know some of the kids already when she attends next year. Sometimes it takes her a while to warm up to new situations. I know she would enjoy the experience. (It looks like a lot of fun to me!) I am agonizing over this! Please help.— Happy at Home Mom in Canandaigua, New York | | | ANSWER |
July 23, 2001 | | | Dear Happy at Home Mom,
If I understand correctly, your daughter is getting along very well in playgroup and at home. You have a good preschool in mind but wonder if she should start now, so that she'll have two years worth.
I think you might reasonably plan to wait for a few reasons:
- If you hold off until the beginning of the school year, your daughter will be starting in sync with the class rather than joining in the middle.
- At that point, she'll be a bit over three (by my calculation), which is really a fine age to start preschool. Many children turn five during their second year in preschool.
- In general, for a child who takes some time to feel comfortable in a new situation, it can help to be on the older end of the age range--the extra time helps them to be that much more mature and confident.
- Finally, it seems as though you and your daughter are having a wonderful time together right now. Enjoy the present! It will be gone and over before you know it.
— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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