If you were to decide to do preschool, would you start them at 3 or 4 years old?

Question

Please feel free to explain reasoning below - (finances aren't an issue for me)

Answer

Socialization is key and the earlier you start the more they have access to early intervention if they need it

Answer

My son is going to be starting Pre-K in September. He is 4. I'm a stay at home mom so we've been able to distance during the worst of covid. But as a result he doesn't have much exposure to other kids since he has no siblings or cousins. I debated starting him last year at 3, but we were in the middle of moving cities and it ended up getting pushed back. Now he is going to have 1yr PK, then move on to kindergarten next  year (he'll be almost 5.5 at the start of the school year). I wish we had been able to get him involved with other kids when he was 3, preschool or daycare. But at the time I didn't think the positives outweighed the risk of COVID (we have immunocompromised family members). Now he gets his first vaccination on Friday!
So I'd recommend regular opportunities to engage with other kids at 3.

Answer

I have a 3 year old and a 4 year old, both starting this coming fall into pre-k class. I don't think my son (4) was ready last year but my daughter (3) is ready this year

Answer

We'll be starting preschool next year when our oldest is 3, but I'll be homeschooling her for preschool and all of her schooling.

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I wanted to start my son at 3 but he wasn't ready so we're hoping to start next fall after his 4th birthday. On the other hand I'm a bit torn, I started really young and it has affected my relationship with schooling throughout my life. My step daughter started late (4 going on 5) and she seems to love school, is really passionate about learning, enjoys the environment and never seems to struggle so I'm hoping that delaying my son will help him like it helped his sister.

Answer

We are starting at 3. The cutoff is Sept 1. My son’s birthday is Sept 22. So he will be 4 for most of the year. But he will be in the pre-k 3s class this year and the 4s class next year. 
We did attend a early childhood program through the public school this year that is for ages birth-5. 
I had not really considered pre-k until he started that early childhood program and quickly realized he would really enjoy it and needed it. He has always been home with me, no siblings or cousins and minimal interaction with other kids. But he is a social butterfly and loves being around other kids. 
My only regret is the age cutoff. I think my son should be in the 4s class for several reasons but unfortunately it just can’t be this way.

Answer

I would definitely start at 3 just for the social aspect of it. My son started daycare at 8 weeks, so he’s always had social interaction. He was home for 5 months during Covid but has cousins, so he still had social interaction. His daycare starts preschool at 3, so he’ll be in the 3 year old preschool class starting in august even though he’s already 3.5. He has a late birthday. My oldest niece didn’t start preschool until half way through the 4 year old class, and there is a huge difference in her behavior compared to others her age or even my 3 year old. Part of her issues are probably personality but a lot is not having social interaction earlier in life. Her sisters are doing better since they got started the same time as her. They’re younger.

Answer

Definitely 3.  I'm a preschool special education administrator and it's overwhelming the difference that  I see.  Early childhood education can help and support children and the socialization alone is worth it.  At 3 (and even 4), it's a lot of play based learning but kids learn best through play.  I wouldn't hesitate.

Answer

We don’t have 3K where we live. Kids have to be 4 to go to pre-K. Our kids go to a small, in home daycare though because we both work full time.

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I put my son in when he was 3 , he had a huge speech delay and the pre-K program he got into offered all the supports he needed to gain some speech he was missing. He got to work with an occupational therapist and speech pathologist weekly. If he didn’t need that extra help I would have skipped preschool.

If you were to decide to do preschool, would you start them at 3 or 4 years old?

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