Nursery School - start at age 2 or 3?

Is there any benefit at starting at two?

Or

Is there a disadvantage if you wait until age three?

Kevin will be only 2 years 2 months by September? Do kids go this early or is it 2 years and 9 months as I've seen on some websites?

Message edited 1/26/2007 11:23:56 AM.

Re: Nursery School - start at age 2 or 3?

Personally I don't feel a child HAS to go to nursery school at 2 or 3 or any age. I think it's a personal choice as to what age you do decide to send your child IF you send your child.

For us, I go back and forth. While I do feel that Michael needs to get out with other kids, I think he is fine in terms of what he's learning. He knows his shapes, colors and all of his letters - we sing, we dance, we play, etc. I work full time and he is still thriving (not bragging here, lol)....

BUT I do think we will send him somewhere eventually to get together with other kids, learn the in's and out's of a classroom and obeying rules of the teacher, etc.

He just turned 2 in December and he is NOT going in September. I may start checking schools out in 2008, but I have to see. Part of me thinks holding him off for Pre-K will be our best bet.

Good luck! Whatever you decide will be best for your child I'm sure!

Message edited 1/26/2007 12:35:01 PM.

Re: Nursery School - start at age 2 or 3?

My nephew just started at 3 and I think it would have been good for him to start at 2. He was teh youngest by 5 yrs and i think he got a little spoiled: always getting his way, not having to share toys, etc. He is doing good now but i do think he owuld have benefitted to dtart a bit earlier. Most of the programs are only a couple of hours so I don't see how it could hurt,.

Re: Nursery School - start at age 2 or 3?

I sent Jack at 2 because I needed some time during the day each week since I work from home. Plus he was very clingy and did not do well around other kids. Now everyone says he is a totally different kid and the teachers tell me he is one of the dominant personalities in the classroom (in a good way!) So it was the right decision for us.

Re: Nursery School - start at age 2 or 3?

Yeah but if they are 2 don't they have to be potty trained already? I know a lot of the nursery schools in queens or at least in the area I live in won't take a 2 year old unless they are potty trained. My SIL and I were talking about this the other day.

Re: Nursery School - start at age 2 or 3?

I think I'm going to try to get Katherine in Nursery in September...she'll be 2 on 9/7. It is 2 days a week for 2 hours a day.

My DH feels it's too young, and I do too sort of however, Katherine has been used to interacting with other children since she's been 3 months old when I went back to work (my mom, MIL and cousin watch her on different days and they all watch a couple of other children as well). Come April/May, I'll be becoming a SAHM and I would like her to keep up with that. Also she is quite a social butterfly and is bored to tears when she's alone with me.

Re: Nursery School - start at age 2 or 3?

We are thinking about nursery schools too. He will be 2 in April and I am starting the search. I was thinking that we could send him at three but I wanted to give my mom a break since she watches my son and my niece who is 3 weeks older.

I know that he will be tought his colors, numbers/letters and shapes before I send him to school but I like the idea of him having interactions with other kids.

Re: Nursery School - start at age 2 or 3?

I think it depends on how much interaction they have at the age of 2. If he's been home with only Mommy, I'd say start him earlier. If you do playgroups, activities, etc than you can hold off. IMO, the earlier you do it, the less of a tramautic leaving mommy (and dc) for the both of you.

My kids were in daycare from the beginning so there was no transition.

Re: Nursery School - start at age 2 or 3?

Jacob will be starting his toddler program at the age of 2.. He already has plenty of interaction with all the classes that he takes however I think it would be good for him to go to a program for toddlers. It would give him more structure than just running around in a gym.

The program is 2 or 3 days a week for 2 hours a day. They do not need to be potty trained. In fact at all the schools I looked at they don't need to be potty trained.

Also, I already started mommy and me this month which I will continue until June and then he will be doing summer camp 2 days a week for 2 hours a day .
So I feel he will be very acclimated to the school and the teachers there when he enters school in September.

Also sending him to school, will free up some time for me to get errands done quicker than when he is with me.

Message edited 1/26/2007 3:01:15 PM.

Re: Nursery School - start at age 2 or 3?

I started Jillian in Sept in school 3x a week. She loves it. There are about 9 kids in her class and loves to go there and it gives me time to do errands without her . I can go food shopping in peace and even go to the library to read a good book once in a while. It has totally helped her development. She does listen better but what toddler really does. She also is very content with a book and loves music more than ever.

Re: Nursery School - start at age 2 or 3?

Our nursery school only starts classes at 2 1/2. Jesse will be one month shy of that when he starts in Sept. but they said no problem. They also said if he has a difficult time adjusting, he can stop for a couple months and then come back.

We decided to send him to the 2 1/2 year old class (two times per week for 90 minutes each) because he does not go to day care, and we want him to learn to socialize and listen to adults other than us.