Every year in the United States over 4 million children start attending preschool. However, not all children will start at the same age.

Being ready to start preschool is very important if your child is going to enjoy themselves. So, how do you know when your child is ready to enroll in a preschool near Niceville, FL? Find out some of the things that will help you decide what age to start preschool for your child.

What Age Do Kids Start Preschool At? 

To begin with, when does preschool start? Children can start at preschool in America from anywhere between the ages of two and five years old. This can depend a little on the preschool, as some do not take students under three.

For example, 88% of American five-year-olds attend preschool every year. This is because the older your child is, the more likely they are to be ready for preschool.

Older children will have developed the basic skills they need to succeed at preschool. While some skills, like socializing and sharing toys, will develop at preschool, others are necessary before they start. Let’s take a look at these.

How Strong is Your Child’s Communication? 

Finding the best age for preschool isn’t just about how long your child has been alive. How well they can communicate will go a long way toward their success in a preschool environment.

Your child’s language will develop a lot once they start education. However, they should be able to express themselves using basic speech patterns. Typically, most children can do this by the age of three.

Can Your Child Handle Transitioning Between Activities? 

The best preschools will offer your child a variety of different educational activities throughout the day. This is why it’s important that your child can handle plenty of sensory input without getting tired.

Younger children and babies generally need to rest during a busy day. In contrast, if your child seems like they need more entertainment they might be ready for preschool. This is especially true if they lose interest in basic activities or are not tired at the end of a long day.

Does Your Child Follow Instructions? 

While at preschool your child will also need to understand what their teacher is saying and follow basic instructions. This might involve tidying up toys or helping to wipe down the table after snack time. As well as being helpful, some instructions are a matter of health and safety, so they need to be followed.

With that in mind, you should make sure that your child can follow basic instructions before sending them to preschool. You can try this out at home and see how they respond.

Find Out When Your Child is Ready for a Preschool Near Niceville, FL

There is no one set age at which children are ready to start preschool, although it usually falls between the ages of three and five years old. It depends a lot on their basic development.

Of course, it’s also worth asking the preschools themselves. They are experts at identifying students who are ready to learn. For more help deciding whether your child is ready to start preschool near Niceville, get in touch today.