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Home › Articles › Development › Tiny Scholars

Tiny Scholars

Is Your 2-Year-Old Too Young for School?

By Lisa A. Goldstein

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The benefit of starting preschool young is that children begin to learn how to interact and "negotiate" with other children and adults who aren't their parents, says Means. They are typically exposed to things through the curriculum and materials that they might not be exposed to at home, she adds.

This exposure, however, potentially can be provided through playgroups where the parents participate, says Linda Smith, executive director of the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. She feels that preschools are not appropriate for children under the age of 2. "Most children under the age of 24 to 30 months do not have the language skills to participate in organized educational type programs," she says. "They are developmentally not ready for cooperative play or social interaction with other children. Instead, what you usually see is a child either playing alone or beside another child."

The only possible benefit Smith sees to starting school early is developing social skills through organized play. This can be a negative, however, because very young children put into group settings when they aren't ready can end up biting or experience other types of distress, says Smith. She cites biting as the most common indicator that the child isn't ready for large groups.

What to Look For
Ultimately, Smith says, it's important for parents to consider their child's developmental level and temperament. She asks parents the following questions: "How social is their child? Do they enjoy approaching new people or are they shy around strangers and take time to warm up? Does their child tolerate changes? Are they adaptable? How well do they cope with frustration?"

Smith suggests certain things to look for in an early preschool program, such as the caregivers/teachers and their qualifications, training and skills to make sure they're not trying to force down a curriculum designed for older children onto much younger children. Smith also says the environment should be open with lots of simple toys. Children should be allowed to move freely and choose what they like and when to play with others.

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