What age should you send your kid to school?

Kindergarten is not what it used to be. Now Kindergartners are expected to read and write and get homework. Having said that I think that children should have at least one or two years of pre-school before entering kindergarten. This way they will be, at the very least, socially prepared for school and be ready to learn academically.

I say at 4 they can go to preschool and start school at 5

My oldest started school 2 months after turning 5. She did preschool but it wasn't major school. It was 2 days a week for 1 1/2 hours each day. It was only from October-March. She started Kindergarten barely knowing all of her ABCs (she recognized them and could write many of them but didn't know their sounds). She had never been in a real school, met her teacher or been on a school bus but she did great. By May she was reading at a 2nd grade level and made all sorts of friends. She is in 1st grade now and one of the smartest kids in her class. She got straight As on her last report card. My son is 5 1/2 now and has never been to school. He was supposed to be in preschool this year but we couldn't afford it so he didn't go. He is supposed to start Kindergarten in the fall (a month before turning 6) but he doesn't know any of his ABCs and just learned to write his name. But I don't care because we decided to homeschool the older two this next school year because we are moving to a horrible school district. My 4 1/2 year old daughter has never been to school, either. She will go to the same preschool my oldest went to when we move. I don't think preschool is necessary for every child. Some children will, of course, benefit from it, but for others it is just boring.

I think that more than anything it is the preparedness of the child that should be considered. Even if she's 5 when you don't prepare her enough she will never be ready. Start by encouraging her to socialize with neighbors or your friend's children. That way she will have exposure in dealing with other children who are not part of her family and whom she doesn't always see. Then make her watch eduactional shows and see if she has interest in learning. It is better also if you make her watch educational shows even before she can actually appreciate it and even if she doesn't really watch. Never force her to watch. Time will come when her attention span will stretch out and she will pay attention.

Here in Australia, actual school doesn't start until age 5 - they go to kindergarten for 1 or 2 days a week which is just interacting with other kids, learning to play with others & just fun stuff. When they are 5 they can go in to the first level of primary school which is reception, after that is year 1 & so on. I wouldn't start my daughter too soon coz it would be too hard for her to adjust - especially at 3 like you mentioned.

My 21 month old daughter has been in daycare since she was 3 months old. When she went into the class she's in now, at age 18 months, she began being exposed to "lessons". They have a curriculum they follow just to get the children familiar with various ideas and concepts. It is somewhat organized learning. I plan to put her in a preschool-type daycare at age 3. They teach computer lessons and take them to the library, as well as teach numbers, letters, writing, colors, and Bible lessons. It is pretty expensive compared to the daycare she's in now, but if it gives her a headstart for public school it is worth it to me. Education doesn't have a pricetag.