Tiny Scholars

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

By Lisa A. Goldstein

Child-teacher ratios and group sizes are also important. "Ratios over 1 to 5 or 1 to 6 and groups larger than 10 to 12 are a recipe for disaster," says Smith.

One hallmark of a good program is being NAEYC-accredited. Programs that have earned NAEYC accreditation have compared themselves against the rigorous national standards and made a commitment to improve, says Means. Even if parents can't find an NAEYC-accredited program, they can use the same criteria, which Smith covers. Along with what Smith suggests, Means says to look for programs where directors and teachers have degrees or ongoing professional development programs, specifically in early childhood development. Observing the program firsthand is highly recommended.

An alternative preschool environment may be more suitable for some children, such as a Montessori preschool where the method of teaching is based on the interests of each child. Or there's a co-op preschool, where one parent is required to attend with their child.

Robin Nolan of Carson City, Nev., started her son in such a preschool at 18 months, but he didn't get that much from it. "I would not put my child in a preschool without a parent, because they are too young," says Nolan. "I would think that sort of preschool without a parent is more akin to daycare."

Parents may choose to put their kids in preschool early for various reasons. Menelli, whose daughter had an unpleasant experience, thought her daughter would be less shy if she got used to it. She didn't like playing with other kids in their playgroup. Nolan thought her son needed more stimulation than from just her. "He needed some more variety other than all the things I was providing," she says.

Samuella Becker decided 16 years ago to put her then 2-year-old in preschool because it was close to home. "He was an only child and socialization with the same kids seemed important to begin building friendships among peers, and there was less competition in enrolling at the age of 2," she says.

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