how young should a kid start schooling?

first... define what it is that you mean by "school"? A formal sit down with a teacher in a classroom situation or something more relaxed and informal. I resisted sending my eldest to school for a long time. Why? I felt I could teach him more things and in a fun way at home with less cost and less stress. We formed a small group of about 3-4 kids and met regularly for playdates which slowly metamorphised into 'school'. But trust me, the kids didn't think they were learning anything. They thought it was story time, drawing time, climbing time, exploring time, etc. Another system I adopted for a while was the Glen Doman style of teaching reading. I wasn't a staunch follower of the system but did what was comfortable for my son and I. The importance always was on FUN... once the FUN for either of us was gone, we'd always stop. hope this helps!

I believe it should depend on your child. As a mother and companion, you will know the right time to send your child to school. The basic knowledge can be learned at home. This will give you the idea if your child is ready for school. If he can already follow simple instrutions then maybe he's ready. You should also gauge the emotional readiness of your child. While being in school with other children of his age definitely improve his socializing skills it may also bruise his confidence if forced.

i think it all depends on your child. if you feel that he is ready to go to school, then maybe it's time to consider. otherwise, you can put it off and just teach him the basics at home. i also have a 20-month old daughter. maybe you can do what i did. i looked around for preschools in our area and tried to inquire. i brought my child along when i inquired so the school principal/director/directress can see and assess if my child is already ready for school or not. inquiring also gave me a pretty good idea of what i should expect from the school, what they teach, and how much it costs. we are considering but we will not force her. if we see that she is ready, then maybe we'll send her to one. but one of our fears is that she may easily get tired or bored of school if we send her as early as now. by the way, a directress in one of the schools we inquired with told me to come back after a year so that she can assess my child if she is ready or not.

hi yanple! i am also a mother of two kids,a girl,4y.o., now a nursery student and a toddler,2 1/2 years of age.i was pretty much excited in making my daughter go to school so when she was 3 years old, i enrolled her to a summer school.(which when i asked her if she wanted to go to school,she said yes)she really had fun ,not only learning but also socializing with other kids,which is why i wanted her in the first place to go to school,to socialize.so when she enjoyed her summer class,we decided she is now ready for school. now,she will be in kinder.she did great.well, as for me,if your child is very much willing to go,then let her.try enrolling her first to a summer school.if she enjoyed it,then there are toddler classes out there.but then there are times when my daughter would come home telling me she's very tired and she wanted to rest,then i don't force her to go to school the next day. let her enjoy playing with other kids or might as well buy her crayons,painting materials,make some home made play dough.give her art materials,and then let her explore.there are books with different activities for toddlers.when you see that she is doing well and she likes doing it,then by all means,let her go to school.sorry if this is too long,i hope somehow i helped you in one way or another.

I think he is too little, for a playgroup or something maybe, but not for real school. He is a baby, let him play, relax and have fun!!

I have the same concern. We actually started bringing my daughter to some play schools since two weeks ago. I'm gauging her readiness and based on what I saw, she's very excited every morning to go to school. Although, I'm still not buying the idea to send her to a regular everyday school. I'm afraid she might get bored eventually since she's just 23months old. We are just trying her now for the preschools and playschools in the area but I already enrolled her for a summer enrichment program in one of the playschools she tried. It is just for a month so I'll see from there. The summer program is just running thrice a week so I guess I can also manage.

Oh of course it is too early for school for your son, I don't know what age your children start school but our children start school at the age of 5 not 2. So I think it is good for him to go to pre-school, but not to start until he is the right age to go into kindergarten.

When he turns three, you can enroll him in preschool and they will start him learning and socializing with other children his age. However, in all honesty, you can start working with him at home and you wouldn't have to worry about costly preschool fees. You can teach him his alphabet and teach him numbers, colors and everything else. However, preschools are a prime way to socialize your child and to make sure he's getting the constant attention from teachers and ensuring that he will go into kindergarten with some knowledge of everything.

My daughter started school at age 3 1/2. Summer before the actual schoolyear started, we enrolled her in a playschool for a month. At first we were hesitant to enroll her at a playschool thinking that she might get bored. We were wrong. She enjoyed every session, made new friends & it really developed her confidence. By the time she's nursery, she was already adapted with the "school environment".

I think u should wait for 4 years Some time school can be more pressure for a kid. Parents can play their role in home. Its not only for learning, socialize with parents also.

personally, i started schooling a bit before 3yr old, and while i can say that it's easier to learn more as a kid, you have to be careful not to start too early. by the time i got half way through high school, i was burn out and had trouble studying. i don't think you should send your kid to school at such a young age, but if you are really concerned about him learning things, then, give him educational games

Here in Malaysia, most parents have already send their children to some (play) school at their age of 2 or 3. I have another friend, who only her girl to kindergarden at 5. She said there was a hard time for her girl to catch up with others. Which I agree because other kids have started years ahead. As for me, I am planning to send my girl to kindergarden at 4, not too early and not tooo late. and don't want her to feel bore about scholling. bare in mind that she will continue to school for her next 18-20 years!

It is said that a child grasps as much information as we tell them. So it is not a bad idea to start schooling at 20 months. At least the child is learning something new and mingling with kids of his/her age. Play school in itself describes that it more fun learning and not some heavy duty stuff. Also, it gives at least 2 hrs. for ourselves to finish off our work in the meantime..

I started my two kids when they were 18 months old and enrol them into playgroup. My younger kid was enrol to child care at age of 20 months are we can see a great improvement in her social behavior. I find that sending them to school at the young age help that to live in groups, and build up their social skill. Else if they stay at home, they are alway with the care givers, the world look small to them.

i personally think that it is too early for him to go to school... he is not even 2 years old yet... in my origin country, the minimum age that a child can be enrolled in school is 3 years old... they won't accept any child younger than that because it might not be good for the child development as well... may be you can teach him the basic thing at home and send him to school when he is 3 years old...

i think 3 1/2 or four,kids can go to school, not too young but not too old to learn new things from school. and teach them to mingle and make friends with others.and a little independence away from us. good day

I would say that as long as you make the learning seem fun and try to work in a little bit every day, you will be fine. I used to sneak in the ABC's with my girls as one of their lullabys. Kids at that age are constantly learning and you can use that fact to your advantage by focusing the want to learn into school oriented subjects.

I showed them lots of things at home early on. The at three I started my children in preschool. I think it is important that they learn early. There are a lot of moms that just teach the kids at home with little books and go over colors and numbers. Which I believe is better than poreschool. If the parent has the time. Unfortunatly I was a single parent and didn't have that option. So preschool was the best option for me. Either way they are learning.

20 months seems a bit early. He can talk, right? I wouldn't think about school until at least 3, if not 4 depending on the neighborhood, child, family circumstances, etc.

no,I think 5-years old IS ok!