08/16/2026
Is my child ready for preschool?
These guidelines are geared towards children who have been home with their parents, and will be attending a private preschool program. They are based off of my personal opinion, and what I feel sets a child up for success in their new preschool career. Please note that NONE of these relate to academics. It is all about setting up a good foundation!
Young children need a variety of ways to experience and explore the world, navigate social situations, and move their bodies (among other things), and preschool can be a really good option for getting a lot of that in at one time on a regular basis. I personally feel that many children are ready for preschool about age 3, but not all. Some parents want to keep their child home an until they are a bit older, and that totally works too! I do think its a smart idea to enroll your child in some kind of early childhood program for at least the year before kindergarten (unless they will be homeschooling), so that they can get used to a little more structure, being more independent, and learn to manage social interactions with peers.
So how do you know if your child is ready? There are a few things I look for-
1) He/ She is beginning to self regulate- I think the most important thing is knowing whether your child will be able to regulate themselves and become comfortable in a preschool environment. You can’t get anything from an experience if your nervous system is living in overdrive! This doesn’t need to happen right from that first drop off- but within a reasonable time frame. Most kids who come to me are having smooth drop- offs and staying happy and engaged throughout class time by the end of the first month of school. Children who come to school upset and struggle to calm/ regulate themselves even after a few weeks may need more time at home, or to try a different program (sometimes the program just isn’t a good fit!). If you feel your child might struggle with this, it could be helpful to ease your little one in to being away from you by leaving them with a good friend or family member first for a few times, so that they begin to understand that their caregiver will always come back for them.
2) He/ She is beginning to self advocate- I feel that a new preschool child should have at least some ability to advocate for their needs (hunger, thirst, the potty, help with shoes, etc..), whether its verbally, or with gestures, hand- leading, facial expressions, etc.. teachers are always doing their best to make sure children’s needs are met, but with multiple kids in a classroom needing help at one time, being able to communicate basic needs can speed that process along and help ensure that your child is getting everything they need while at school to thrive. If you have a child who is behind in this area, finding a program with a lower ratio may be a good alternative.
3) His/ her behavior and temperament are compatible with a group dynamic- I feel like I might get some backlash for this one, but it should be addressed. Some children struggle with social skills in a way that can be distressing or unsafe for other children. This does NOT mean that your child should not attend preschool, however it does mean you should be extra careful to choose a program that is a good fit. Not every program is a good fit for every child. Be upfront with the program you are considering! If your child bites, scratches, hits, etc.. more than a child typically would (this is age appropriate behavior to a point) communicate that information to each potential program and ask them how those behaviors are handled, what their expulsion/ dis- enrollment policy is, and what the temperament/ “vibe” of the current class is like. If they are not equipped to meet your child’s needs and help guide them through these behaviors, it's better to know right off the bat.
Hopefully this helps some parents and guardians of future preschoolers! 🍎
