Is 2.5 too young for pre-school?

[Matildathebrave]

My son started pre-school when he was 3 years and 9 months which I felt was about right but my daughter is due to start in two weeks at only 2.5 years.

I feel she is far too young to be left without her mum though I was the one who put her name down as every other child seems to be going at this age.

Should I:

1. Take her along and see how she gets on or

1. Leave it another year and try her then?

Can't bear to leave her am in a real state.

Matilda

ds2 went at 2.5 he loved it

Thanks for starting the thread Matilda, it has helped me to really think about and, like you, be sure that DS will only stay if he is happy with it.

I actually started another thread here
linked to this as you had got me thinking!

DD started in March when she was 2.7. I'm not sure if it is classed as a proper pre-school or more of a playgroup really but we decided to send her as we'd recently moved out to the back of beyond and she had no other children to mix with. She went for one morning session for a few weeks then it increased to 2 after Easter. From this week she'll be going 3 mornings. Ours is a tiny group - I think 8 is the most they have in on a given day. The first few weeks were difficult - she did cry but tended to be OK as soon as I'd gone and my staying with her seemed to make it worse but she settled down very quickly. Her language skills have improved (though of course they may have done anyway) and it is nice for me to have a break too.

However, don't send DD if you don't feel she's ready or if you aren't ready just because everyone else is. Do you have to start now or can you start after autumn half-term/Christmas/whatever? Ours were happy to accept DD (and anyone else) at anytime.

I think it depends on the child and on the setting. The pre-school in our village starts from 2.5 and goes up to 4, as the village school has a mixed nursery/reception class which children start going to the term after they are 4.

It is a lovely place and both DS and DD started going there when they were 2.5. DD had a little wobble around 3.4 but got happy again pretty quickly. This next term will be DD's last and I will be a bit when she leaves.

DD started at 2 - she rules the roost there and is totally happy. She is given the newbies to look after!

My son started going to pre-school 2 afternoons a week in January he was 2.5 and he loved it settled right in and when it wasnt school days asked if he could go! He starts 5 mornings a week next week, your daughter will soon let you know if she is not ready for it if she isnt take her out and try again in january,