Isn't the rush to preschool starting younger and younger these days?

[Anonymous]

DD has a really great nanny and goes to a class every morning. At 20 months, I am not worried about her "socialization" or learning. Since she has a December birthday, I was not planning to send her to a drop off preschool until she is 3yrs/9 months - but now everyone her age is talking about drop off preschool starting this September at a few months shy of two!

I feel she is better off with her nanny and her classes - she is learning so much - but I might be missing something... Would you start in a drop off preschool before 3yr/9months?

[Anonymous]

I'd wait another year as she cannot start school till later with a December birthday.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't bother calling it a "preschool," which is a pretty meaningless term for kids under 3 IMO. And I wouldn't rush to put my kid in one if I were happy with her existing care situation.

[Anonymous]

We didn't have a nanny, my 2 year old was in an in home daycare. By the time she was 2.5, she was on of the older kids there. We knew by 3 she'd be ready to leave for sure, as then it'd be all younger kids. Not bad, just maybe a bit boring as a lot of the younger kids are pre-verbal.

So yes we looked a for a preschool that would take a new 3 year old. We also needed full time care, year round (not on the school schedule) so we enrolled her this summer, just before turning 3. It's been a fabulous fit. She went from crying and resisting going to daycare to running full speed into the building.

Now, I do think being home with a nanny is pretty different.

But yes, you'd look at our situation and think we were "early" when in fact it was just time to move on from our previous arrangement.

If you are happy with your nanny, by all means, start closer to 4 years old.

[Anonymous]

Seriously, I am feeling this pressure too. I am also holding strong with a nanny!

[Anonymous]

I totally felt like that with my first kid. She had a great nanny and they were happy as can be going to the park or the mall, just kinda walking around and playing all day. My second was totally different and REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to play with kids. Like chased any child down he saw and just immersed himself in anything social. My oldest was at school all day so I was planning on keeping my nanny and having him hang with her all day and nanny wait at bus stop for older DC and start dinner routine. I thought I had the perfect set up. Until it became beyond clear DC2 was ready for preschool by 2.5. He really was so much happier and slept better when we enrolled him. He was engaged and tired out by the end of the day. Like I said has nothing to do with the nanny. She fit the personality of DC 1 great and they worked out well together until 4 years but DC2 just wanted kids to play with much sooner. By 3.5 he went to an all day program (basically daycare) and we just hired a college student to pick him up at 3 and DC 1 up at 330 and stay at the house till 5. Different arrangements work for different kids.

[Anonymous]

I started my daughter a little before 3 because she was home with me and I felt like she would enjoy being with other children, but if you feel like she's getting socialized and stimulated then no worries. You can start preschool later.

[Anonymous]

Most preschools (not daycares) start at 2, so your child wouldn't be ready / eligible this year anyway. I'd wait til next September when she is 2.5. Or, since she can't start K til 5.5 sure, wait until 3.5 to start. Two years of preschool is plenty. In our school, many of the kids start at 2, but it's not at all unusual to start at 3.

My son was sort of socially weird just due to inexperience with other kids, so we wanted to get him in a classroom setting, and sent him at 2. It was great for him and he's now very social. If your daughter seems fine then that is fine too. It's up to you and there's no wrong answer.

[Anonymous]

I had a nanny for my kids and both had late Fall/early winter birthdays. I started them in 2x per week morning preschool (6 hours per week) when they were 2.5+. It was great for them. So they were with the nanny most of the week except for the 2 mornings.

This is also a common entry point for part-time preschool and can be the easiest time to get in because the most slots are available. Many places have a 2.5 year old class. You might have a harder time finding a spot when your kid is 3 because all the younger kids move up to the next class and there are fewer slots available.

[Anonymous]

Because they need to be College and Career ready in elementary school. The pressure is intense and it trickles down to even the youngest children. It is insane. I feel badly for today's kids.

[Anonymous]

I started my 2 year old in part-time preschool -- it's only 9-12 twice a week. It's been great. Doing 3-year-old classes this year. He has a nanny; I wanted him to interact with people other than nanny and his baby sister. Do what you want .

[Anonymous]

I sent DD for essentially, one semester of preschool before kindergarten. She was 4-4.5 for it. I don't care what other people are doing. Everyone has to do what they think is best for their specific kid.

[Anonymous]

I was reading through your OP and then thinking about the math and whatnot, before I realized that my kid is the exact age as yours - a 20 month old with a December birthday. I can assure you that, no, I have absolutely no intentions of starting preschool any time soon.

My child barely talks, I can teach colors or numbers or sitting still on his own spot perfectly fine at home, better even, since the ratio is better. 1:1!

Socialization is overrated, especially at the clingy toddler age. Plenty of time for preschool, maybe, at 3 or 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they need to be College and Career ready in elementary school. The pressure is intense and it trickles down to even the youngest children. It is insane. I feel badly for today's kids.

Yes, if you go to one of these morning preschools, the kids are being drilled on the alphabet and made to run laps around the building!!

Uh, they're really not. My kids have gone to three different part-time preschools (which is what the OP is talking about) in the area and they've all been play-based and about as low key as you can imagine. Some circle time, some snack, just a few hours a week in the early years to start learning how to manage in a group setting. Some people are looking for a place to send their kids so there's a market for it. I think that's about it.

[Anonymous]

I'm neutral on it - if you like the nanny and classes I think it is fine to keep it up and only have two years of preschool. My Dec bday child started preschool at 21 months and will have 4 years of preschool but that's because I needed the part time childcare for work.