Trying to decide what age you should enroll your child in a pre-K program causes stress for many parents. From their years of experience serving the children of Fairfield, CT, the trusted educators at Pumpkin Preschool offer some tips for determining if your child is ready for a preschool program.

The Best Age to Start Your Child in a Pre-K Program

Most parents enroll their children in a pre-K program between the ages of three and four to provide at least a year of educational development before the child enters kindergarten. Preschool programs are designed to give children the early stages of critical thinking and social skills so they can be successful when entering primary school.

The exact age your child should enter into a pre-K program is less about a specific number and more about their stage of personal development. While some kids begin showing emotional and intellectual intelligence as young as two and a half, others may not be ready until they're closer to four or five years old.

Signs Your Child Is Ready for Preschool

There are signs that preschool educators often look for when determining the readiness of a child for a pre-K program. These include language skills, being potty trained, and their level of independence.

Language Skills

While they aren't expected to have an extensive vocabulary this early in their development, children should be able to understand verbal questions and commands, as well as express their emotions and thoughts in complete sentences.

Potty Trained

While there are medical conditions and physical issues that may delay the age of potty training, most pre-K programs require students to be successfully potty trained and self-sufficient when it comes to bathroom breaks. Similar to kindergarten, preschool programs usually have scheduled restroom breaks, but unlike primary school, the pre-k educators expect bathroom breaks to occur more frequently.

Level of Independence

Another factor to consider is how reliant your child is on you or their caregiver for things like eating and playing. If your child still relies on someone to feed them, then they might need more time before entering a pre-K program. You should start encouraging them to become more independent until they begin to do more things on their own.

If you believe your child is ready for preschool, contact the qualified educators at Pumpkin Preschool. The early learning center has three convenient locations in Fairfield, Shelton, and Westport. To begin the application process, call (203) 255-7505. You can also learn more about their pre-K program on their website and Facebook page.