so do most kids start preschool at 3???

[Bluewrenee]

Hi girls

I have a little boy who turns 3 in December (cant quite believe it) and alot of his little friends are going to preschool next year at 3??

I had always planned to send him at 4
to be ready for school... But wondering if he will be at a disadvantage, will those kids be ahead of him? I work part time so he spends 2 days a week with grandparents and I spend time doing activities as well as attending playgroup once a week so he can socialise.....
I just feel they spend so much of their life at school why rush it
But wondering what others have found when making this choice??

[LimeSlice]

We sent DD1 to 3 year old kinder, now at 4 yo kinder and she will start prep next year at 5. (She turns 5 in 3 weeks)
She was reeeeally ready for kinder, thrived and loved it. She went 3 full days a week and for us, it was worth the money we paid to send her.

I personally think 3yo kinder is great, many others don't, I think it comes down to your child and what you think is best for them.

[mel_cur]

My DD started 3yr old preschool this year (2 days a week). Its about socialising, getting used to doing what the teachers say ie sit on the mat, don't hit that boy, work with that girl to complete task. I am a SAHM so she didn't really get to socialise with a heap of different kids. Its been amazing for her. Next year she will be going 3 days a week.

[Lily Dust]

Our DD will go at 4. Couldnt quite bring myself to send her just yet! We do a few group activities to encourage her social development too. Thankfully I wasnt in a position where we had to send her just yet either.

[Artechim]

In NZ it is common for kids to start kindergarten at 3. My DS started then, three mornings a week. My DD started at 2.5, just because I was there anyway doing some office stuff and she loved to play. As she got closer to 3 I started leaving her there. My kids love it.

[TaRhLi.]

My DD is starting 3yr old Kinder next year for 2 mornings a week, 3 yr Kinder is optional in Victoria but DD needs that extra stimualtion that I just can't provide for her at home. Plus 3 yr Kider is about play, gaining social skills and interacting with other children in a structured environment.

She is already excited about going to 'school' next year and we still have another 3mths to go

[Trillian]

Yeah, it's common now and pretty much expected as part of their early childhood education. It really does benefit them to go - they do a lot of play-based learning that is semi-structured and early childhood educators now have a curriculum to follow that align with the curriculum that is used in schools. It's like a precursor to their formal education. Its all part of preparing your child for school (even though I know it seems a long way off now) as well as helping them with any difficulties they may have - by attending preschool any problems are picked up early and intervention can take place well before they start school. I know you say your little fella is pretty well socialised, but preschool is different in that it is only children of his age group. TBH, even if you don't send him now he's not going to miss out on anything in that one year, but the year before school is vital IMO, and I'm sure you know that already . I was of a similar view to you with my first - he only attended in the year prior to him starting school because we just didn't think it was necessary - he attended playgroup and had two younger siblings. It certainly didn't hold him back by only going one year and I don't regret doing it like that, but the rest of my kids have all attended from 3yrs old and done two years at preschool before starting school. I have only ever sent them for one day per week, but many will send them 2 days per week. However with DS2 being our last child he is now attending preschool 2 days per week for this last term - prior to that he was only going one day. But he needs it - he just doesn't get the stimulation at home during the day because he's the only one here.

Plus, this has nothing to do with the actual child attending preschool and the benefits they will get from going as a 3yo, but in some places you may find that the waiting lists are huge and preference is given to those who are already attending. This was the main reason why we sent our next 3 kids at 3yo - because there was a boom in the town which meant a lot of new, young families moved here and places were scarce as hens teeth. We were told that there would be an order of preference put in place to cope with the demand - so at the top of the list were children with special needs, then came children under DoCs/Foster care, children/families already in their system (having an older sibling already attend in the immediate year prior) and then everyone else. They had limited places and the waiting lists even for 3yo's were going to be huge so it forced our hand. If you live in an area of high demand then this may be a problem for you too. I would be calling all your local preschools and see if that may be the case for your area. It may not be what you really want to do, but you may have to if it guarantees him a place as a 4yo.

[Lenny]

I have just managed to secure a 2.45 hour session for my DS2 at the same kinder that DS1 goes too. We only got the spot today - they are squeezed for space down here.

I do not think your DS will be disadvantaged if he does not go! But neither are the other children 'being rushed'. It's so not like school. Maybe go and visit a preschool and see what it's all about before you decide. They always welcome parents and visitors.

I chose kinder for DS1 because he learnt about being away from me, and choosing his friends and what activity (within limits) he could participate in. He learned about other adults caring for him.

I adore their preschool environment and the two lead teachers are so wonderful. It's a great environment for my kids to start their learning.

[Phteven]

My DS2 started pre-school when he was 4 and kinder the year he turned 5. He's one of the youngest in his class.
Maybe the best thing to do is start from the cut-off date for when he will have to start kindy and work backwards. I think in NSW they have to be enrolled by the time they turn 6 so if they are 5 by July you should enroll them. Since he turns 6 in December I think you will need to enroll him to start kindy when he is 5 and 3 months. So he can start pre-school when he is 4 and 3 months.

[fionas]

The 3yo program is only for 2 hours a week here. I didn't bother sending DD1 as she was getting plenty of socialisation from two days of childcare anyway.

I may not bother with it for DD2 either, depending on what day/time it is.

[Bluewrenee]

Thanks for the thoughts so seems it really is the norm I wouldn't mind a morning but when I spoke to our local preschool they seem to think 2 days is better for their routine?? But I've put him on a list for when he turns 4 but seeing as its so hard I might go find another place just in case :/

I should if probably mention since he turned 2 he went through really bad separation anxiety and it can still be bad if I've gone out for the day and left him .... So thought he may not be ready yet as may make it worse....,,or who know may make it better?

Their are so many decisions as parents aren't there, I was also shocked to find out how much preschool is these days may have to pick up more work just to cover it lol

Thanks again ladies

[trishalishous]

here the cut off is the financial year they turn 4, so my DD will be 3.5 when she starts, but DS will be 4.5

[helle]

I'm same as trish. Good old WA!

[Liz]

We start our kids at 3yo.. Mainly cos I'm a bit useless in the sit down and do fun things all day department lol. So in that regard 3yo preschool was fantastic. Socially/emotionally they were probably a bit young, but they loooved all the activities. 2 days a week is really good for helping them settle in. A week between each visit, especially in the beginning is a long time. They get used to the teachers quicker with consecutive days. This proved true with my kids but lots of kids manage 1 day as well.

As for getting a spot at 4yr if not doing 3yr.. I know our preschool gives preference to 4yr olds. So you don't have to be in from 3yrs to get in. If anything there's more worry about not getting a 3yr spot if there's lots of 4yr olds enrolling. They have other preferences as well such as siblings and in-area. It's all a bit complicated heh.

[surprised]

Hun in NSW it's usual to go 1 or 2 days (930-330ish) when they are 3, then 2 or 3 days when they are 4 and going to school the next year. The preschools don't usually do half days - that happens in other states.

Have you looked into daycare or occasional care? They both work out significantly cheaper per day for us due to Ccb and ccr.

[LimeSlice]

Hun in NSW it's usual to go 1 or 2 days (930-330ish) when they are 3, then 2 or 3 days when they are 4 and going to school the next year. The preschools don't usually do half days - that happens in other states.

Have you looked into daycare or occasional care? They both work out significantly cheaper per day for us due to Ccb and ccr.

Also see if any kindergartens in your area are eligible child carers for CL - ours was a registered day care and thus we received both the benefits of CCR and CCB, and getting her out of the child care system (which sucked in WA at the time for Kinder).

[Trillian]

Hun in NSW it's usual to go 1 or 2 days (930-330ish) when they are 3, then 2 or 3 days when they are 4 and going to school the next year. The preschools don't usually do half days - that happens in other states.

Have you looked into daycare or occasional care? They both work out significantly cheaper per day for us due to Ccb and ccr.

Some will specifically run a half day program for the *younger* 3yo's (ie those who have only recently turned 3 when they start or those not quite 3 yo - Feb/March bubs), in my area our preschool does that and I know of several other ones in the surrounding area that does it too, but then it also means that some kids who were Jan/Feb/March born were actually having 3 years at preschool, starting with a half day as a *just* 3yo, then a full day as a 4yo, then 2 days as a 5yo because they were going to be held back from school till they were 6. I think the preschool has cut right back on the early 3yos and they are not granted a place in preference to the older 3yo's (those already 3) so the half day has probably been phased out now anyway. I do not think that a 3yo needs 2 full days at preschool though, but that's just my opinion.

[~*Niadalla*~]

We sent DS to 3yo kinder last year (he turned 4 in July that year) and he's in 4yo kinder now and will be 5&1/2 when he starts school in Feb.

Due to being in a rural area and needing the numbers to make the program run, we were allowed to send DD who turned 3 in may and missed the cut off by 13 days (cut off was April 30 here in Vic). She will attend 3yo kinder again next year.
She has absolutely THRIVED at 3yo kinder I almost feel terrible that she'll have to do it again, but I know she won't be bored as there's always something to do. She was VERY ready to attend. Her sessions are 2.5 hours, one day a week.