When is the right age for nursery/more structured learning?

[Gangle]

DS is 20 months and currently in a nanny share with one other child his age. Their nanny takes them to play groups/parks most days and they seem happy and well stimulated although there are days when they can't go out due to the weather and DS starts to climb the walls. He has loads of energy and is very curious/keen to learn so I was wondering when the ideal time was to start introducing more formal learning, numbers/colours etc. I do all of this with him of course and he is starting to know colours but I am wondering if he would benefit from a few days in a nursery environment when there is a more formal program. Or is it too early and he has enough stimulation through just play?

The simple answer to your thread title question is 5.

I think 2.5 years+. But it depends on individual settings. Children have to be at a certain level of development to be able to get anything out of nursery school, as good levels of communication and independence are essential. But children are all different. Nursery school is a big step up from going to a playgroup with a supporting adult. Maybe you should visit some to see.?

Just where there is a development program where they are trying to teach them through play. e.g. number, colours, letters etc or is it too early?

will definitely visit to try to gauge whether it is right for him. Wasn't thinking of putting him in much before he is 2 or 2.5 and then only for 2 or 3 mornings per week.

Don't try too early as you could put him off for life! How this step goes will affect how he feels about 'school' for a very long time.

DD went to preschool at 2.2 and she loves it. Maybe have a look around for something like that?

They don't do any "formal" teaching there though, it's all learning through play. (Or as I prefer to call it, "playing").

IMO when they can understand, and make themselves understood by, people outside the immediate family ie around about three. Their understanding and independence take off at this point, and some sort of pre-school becomes meaningful.

Verbal skills a good indicator, I think, all other developmental stages being more or less on track.

ImSoNotTelling is spot on - all early years settings must follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, which is all about children learning through play. There is no formal learning until yr 1.

If you're already interacting with him and reinforcing his understanding of the world around him that's great and just what he needs. What he may benefit from in a preschool setting is the development of more socialisation skills, such as taking turns, learning to play together, etc.

Teaching him how to dress himself/put on shoes/toileting etc (when he's ready) are all far more important than the 3Rs. He'll learn quite quickly enough if you give him real life experiences e.g helping him to develop his social and personal skills and things like counting stairs with him as you walk up and down, playing with cups in the bath and using words such as full/empty/float/sink etc.

Play with him and encourage his natural curiosity and you won't go far wrong.

tbh I would say age 7 in an ideal world

Climbing the walls at home is likely to be about lack of exercise not lack of formal learning imo - a trip to the swimming pool or soft play area would be an appropriate solution

Wanted to do 2 mornings of pre school for DD1 at 2.6 as she was ready and keen for her to learn a little independance; actually went at 2.3 as better with my maternity leave. Was fine and she is really enjoying it now. Depends on age of others in setting.

My LO will be going two mornings aweek from January and he will be 2.5. I think he needs something more than I can give him - but thats may be because I need a little break too. Hopefully it will work well for both of us.

My little boys (3.9yrs and 2yrs) go to nursery and/or pre-school four days a week because I work but they don't do much structured learning at either of those places. A little bit of learning numbers and drawing letters once they are over 3 but really not much. Just as much role-playing/singing/building/running around outside etc... I think it's nice for them to go somewhere once they're probably 2.5-3yrs just to get used to dealing with groups of children (both of mine are a little quiet) but I think in terms of formal learning, much more will happen at home than in any other setting.

(just as an aside - are there really days when the weather is too bad to go out? Trip to see the ducks in the rain, to fly a kite on a windy day, to run around the park if not the playground? I'd too be climbing up the walls if I and my dc didn't have enough outdoors exercise)

But re the original question, not before about 2.5 when ready for a low-key pre-school for eg 2 mornings a week.