How young can a child start piano?

[MIFLAW]

Fairly straightforward question - how young can a child start the piano and what, if any, special adaptations need making for a small child (don't play piano myself so don't know anything.)

Thanks.

The impression I'm getting is that, for the first few years, I really should just concentrate on learning to play myself and let my daughter hang around at practice time if she's at all interested.

With loads of stuff, I feel, if she's ready to learn, why wait? But, at the same time, I dread the thought of accidentally hothousing her.

dd (7) asked for lessons last year (we have a piano which I pootle around on). I taught her myself (musical background) as I wanted to see what her commitment was like before shelling out for lessons and I wanted her to practise because she wanted to, rather than because I was standing over her to make sure I wasn't wasting my money

She was very keen for a while but as soon as it got trickier she lost interest. She's picked it up again during the holidays and has found it much easier /got much less frustrated. I think that even a few months more maturity makes a huge difference, so personally I'd say wait until at least 7, but surround your dc with music and musical opportunities

MIFLAW - FWIW I don't think there is any harm in letting DD start to learn. You just have to be alert to how it's going for her.

I'm a snob when it comes to keyboards though - nothing beats the feel of piano keys ... But I do covert one of those keyboard stools...