what is considered the right age to put toddlers in playschool?
340229
depending what preschool's philosophy...how you like the program and how it runs? check with the university nearby...often you will find wonderful diversity of kids from around the world.   i took my two kids to preschool at the university at age of 2... they love it and its been wonderful experience for them!
365487
It is actually not a country wide decision.  In the US each state governs its own education system.  However, you must be 5 years old to enroll in Kindergaten.  Kindergarten in my state is available, but not mandatory, through the public education system.  I believe they can enroll in the Headstart program which is gov't funded at the age of 3. Other institutions such as religious sponsored daycare sometimes designate different ages to begin their education process.
994176
Enroll him in a Marial Arts Class for kids.  My three year old nephew is in it and he can't stop talking about it.  If you feel he's too young for that, enroll him in some other from of class like mommy and me or something along that line.
1073345
The formal operational stage occurs in children aged 11 years plus, according to Piaget. I've got a psychology folder on it, email me if you want any details.
822997
I am an early childhood student teacher (preschool-3rd grade). I have worked in preschools and I have to say that I think 4 years old is a great time to start children in preschool. It seems that parents want their children to start so early, at 1 1/2-2 years old so that their child has a jump start on learning. That is great, however, children are not developmentally ready then. By 4 years old, children are beginning to form their own identity and are ready to go to a school environment away from mom and dad. Even at 4-years, some children struggle but at that age, children are ready and eager to start preschool. Before the age of four, I think parents should enroll their children in play groups so they have the opportunity to interact with children.   I also suggest giving your child 2 years of preschool so that your child will be 6 or close to turning 6 years old.\n\nI am 22 years old and my parents waited till I was 4 to send me to preschool because I had a summer birthday. I think that was the wisest move they made. If I would have been sent to preschool at 3, I would have been one of the youngest in my class.
889471
I am homeschooling my kindergartner...although I feel that we have  been since birth.  My dd also was talking well under a year.  I got a kit for baby sign language and started that with her at 7 months she started signing 2 weeks later. She was speaking clear sentences at about 12 months. It finally dawned on me to video her saying her alphabet @ 18 months (she started much earlier).  I have the baby Einstein videos, books various flash cards, etc.  When she was under 2 I started getting her preschool workbooks that she loved.  Basically I always got her educational materials that were advanced for her and let her play with them.  Some things were to difficult to grasp right away but I was always amazed that there was so much that she knew or learned very quickly.  We make everything a game and when she's done playing that game we/she does something else.  We also never talked baby talk. We never dumbed it down for her either...just like a foreign language they will pick it up and understand if spoken to them.  I have recently discovered the Waldorf method and although I am not sure about some of it other parts are speaking to me.  Playing is very important to a child's  development.  Here is some things you could check into...  There are several homeschooling chat groups that would be of benefit to you.  I understand that she is young but you would be able to reap the benefits from those that have lots of experience homeschooling.  There are also gifted homeschooling yahoo groups that can help with advanced children and the difficulties that can arise.  You can also find a local homeschool group and join up with them.  (even though your daughter is young  many people have babies as well as school aged children)
686210
he is too young to make such decisions. and then you should not insist on it at this age. most kids do not want to go but then they love school (for a while)and you can take him to school and leave him there for an hour when everybody is having fun and he fall in love with school but again for a while
161927
When you are under the age of 5.
857819
My daughter is in pre-k and she is 4 yrs old.  She started this year.  She was born in November so she missed the cut off.. She will start Kindergarden in 2007.  Your son should start pre-k in 2007 and kindergarden in 2008.
21639
Mine just turned 4 and he is reading a little.  I bought him a Leapster L-Max for Christmas and it's really good and he reads because he wants to know what to do next.  However, it may be a bad idea for me to let him get too far ahead and then go to a public school where he'll be bored going through the basic steps and probably start causing trouble.\n\nKindergarten is where they begin to learn the basics of reading and have enough knowledge to form words.  So No.
618052
I agree completely with warren1515.  young children learn through playing.  Some of the academics that are done in kindergarten are appropriate and good but there should always be play time, the kids need it and will get burned out if they don't get it.  I also think that many school systems assume that all children are going to preschool and getting the skills they need to begin kindergarten with this new curriculum and that is just not the case.  Many states are now beginning free state funded preschools to encourage parents to put their kids in preschool.
306175
I think this is a good age to teach children respect and manners.  They have to have this when they start school, so why not start thinking and talking about it now, on a simple level?\n\nHave discussions,(perhaps at Circle Time) and let them have their opinion.  Give everyone who wants to talk, the opportunity. Don't make it compulsory to give an opinion or to talk, as this will create added pressure on the children.  Discuss how they would feel if someone else said that what they had said was wrong, or not right, or horrible, or whatever.  Feelings are very important for young children to learn, as they can very easily, without knowing upset someone.\n\nThe link below will give some good ideas about strategies and ideas.
79131
What age? Most kids of ECE age (2-4) are too young for any large organized projects and get plenty of dramatic (pretend) play with stuff as simple as a few hats and capes. I would not direct the play too much, it stiffles their own creativity and social skill building. You can do felt board stories and have them interact with the pieces, or demonstrate a puppet show and then leave the puppets out for them.
671097
I have two kids and when I've had to enroll them in daycare  I look for cleanliness, a reasonable child to adult ratio and a safe enviroment to include the playground.  I won't pick one if one of these things is not up to par.  A dangerous playground is a killer for me even if the place is wonderful.    If the place is dirty or too messy it sends my kids the wrong message about being clean and it also attracts illnesses.  Kids get sick enough as it is they don't need help.  And sometimes the daycare is wonderful and the teachers are great but if its 15 kids for 1 adult there is no way she can handle that properly.  The educational part of daycares is something Im not to pushy about because all the ones I've been to are pretty much the same, but just make sure you check out their schedule to make sure they don't just sit around and watch TV all day.\n\nIf your question is about a long term baby-sitter, I look for all the same things.  I also like to meet them at a McDonalds or something to see how he/she interacts with the kids..  I usually try and keep away from these because they arent as trustworthy and the kids get less kid to kid interaction since these can only have about 4 kids at a time.
259507
Private schools can do as they please.  They can accept 2-year-olds to kindergarden if they want.  However, most private schools test ALL incoming kindergardeners to determine if they are ready, and just to give the kindergarden teachers a bit of information about the kids coming in.
129452
children need socialization as soon as possible with their peers, or you can get negative results.  a friend of mine has a son in kindergarten who previously has stayed home with a nanny, and he's become a bully due to his lack of "people" skills.  i don't think pre-k should necessarily be "mandatory", but children should at least be inrolled in some form of social group prior to kindergarten.
76089
I don't think it is a physical age thing, but more of a maturity level. But, if they are mature enough, I would say 12/13 years old.