6 more months of activities and play - or start Pre-school now?

[DollyDaisy]

DS is just 3 and has always been at home - although we do lots of activities and are out and about every day

He is already signed up to start pre-school in septermber which will be 3 hrs every day. But now that he is 3, lots of friends and family are telling me that he should be starting some sort of nursery now, even just a coupl of sessions a week to help him get ready for Pre- school (so Pre-Pre-school. iYSWIM!)

I think I would rather him stay at home until September - surely nicer for him to be out and about for a little longer. The main thing I worry about is that it is hard to find similar aged children to play with, as during the week they mostly seem to be in nursery.

What do you think - will it be hard for him to settle at Pre-school in sept with no prior experience of that set up?

He'll be fine in September. Have fun with him during the spring and summer.

I would keep him home till September. He is going to have years and years of education. He will get used to it when the time comes. Summer is coming. Enjoy your time with him. If you are not bothered, just ignore the others. There is this strange push to get children away from family/mothers earlier and earlier. I am rather baffled by it. I listened to all these voices saying to send my 3 kids early. Looking back, I can't help but wonder why...

Belated, but mine started at 3.5, one session a week. I am only just increasing her sessions at almost four. There is no need to rush it if your son is happy at home. Enjoy your time off with him and ignore everyone else!

The Summer term is a lovely time to be at home - lots of visits to the park, playing in the garden, being out and abt in the sunshine. Plus starting in Sept, he will be with lots of other starters and will probably settle more easily.

DS is just 3 and goes to nursery (which will be preschool) one day a week and cm the other 4. We're keeping this routine for the foreseeable future. I figure he'll be in school till he's 18 (at least) so another year of mainly family-based play (and groups and friends) is better than shoving him into the sausage factory as soon as possible.

The cm is a huge fan of Scandinavian systems and learning through play. I think she'd have him till he's 7 if she could! (And I'd let her!)