Hi! Just wanting some input from other Mums...My DS is 3 in less than 2 months and I have his name on a waiting list at a local Kindy. Yesterday they called to say there was a place for him if he wanted to start next week. But I called back and declined!! I am just feeling that he is too young, even when he does turn 3 I'm not sure I could part with him then either!! Also, he is still teething (just starting to cut his 2nd set of molars - he's a bit late). He has never been to daycare and only my parents have babysat him. He is easy going, sociable and 'busy' always getting into something or pulling things apart, so I'm sure he would be fine, lol!

Does your child go to 3 y/o Kindy (and did they settle fine) or are you waiting until the usual age of 3 turning 4 (or even the yaer after if born after June). A few of DS' playgroup friends have been going since the start of the year (and they're not 3 til April either) and they seem to love it...maybe I'm just being over-protective.

My son started preschool (I'm guessing that's the same as Kindy, I'm in NSW) 2 days a week when he was exactly 3. I was really uncertain about it too. I thought there was no way that he would be able to handle it, that he'd cry and scream and want to go home.
But, no my utter amazement, he just LOVED it! At the end of the first day he didn't want to go home - I had to drag him away crying!
I think it just depends on the child. If you have occasional care nearby you could always take your little one for a few hours to see how he goes. You might be pleasantly surprised as I was.

One started 3 year olf kinder at 2(nearly 3) and the other at 4.5. Both loved it. It was only 4 hours per week but gave them a great opportunity to socialise, build skilss, and learn how to operate as part of a group. It's just a little step towards independance.

The age of your child is at difficult time of year when you could start them at kinder this year or next. If I had known how difficult that decision would be to make for DD1 I would have only had children with mid year birthdays!

In the end you know your child better than anyone else.

Is there a group of children he can play with while still in your company?

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I think by 3 they actually start enjoying and need the company of other children. There is only so much we can teach them about being sociable little people when at home, but we can't teach what they learn in larger groups. I think with the amount of children starting in day care so young these days that to NOT let your child experience it is actually a bit of a disadvantage for them by the time they have to go to school and are not used to foreign environment of a school room. 3 is probably a great time to start as they are able to understand a little more about the process and what will happen while they are there. My advice would be to start with don't let them put your child into a class where your child is at the younger end of the group. To begin with and to help them gain confidence they do not need to dominance of much older (often classes at this age are 3-5 yrs) more experienced children in the class with them, and even a 6-12 month age gap as this stage is a massive difference in abilities and personalities. In saying all this most children really enjoy the nurturing environment of the centres and even if you do start them at day care there is no one making you keep them there. It's hard to let go of your firstborn, but it can also be a very rewarding experience for everyone, and think how much one on one time it will give you with the baby. Everyone wins, and nothing is set in stone. If it doesn't work for your family after a couple of months then you can always try again at an older age. Good luck.

PS, I cried more than my DD did for the first 4 weeks of day care (1 day a week). Don't be too harsh on yourself. It's all very normal.

Hi OP,

I can't provide much help regarding starting at 3 as my daughter has been in daycare since she was 12mo for 2 days a week.

However, by the time she moved into the pre-school room at 3 she was really enjoying her time at daycare and was excited about getting there each morning. I also noticed in that year (age 3) she formed some really close friendships and would regale me with lots of stories about who was doing what etc. Such a great age.

Plus by 3 I really think they are ready for some structured learning and play as well as learning how to cope without Mum always being around. Plus she gets to do so many more fun activities at daycare that I would never do with her at home.

I definitely think it is harder on the Mummies!!

Good luck with your decision, I'm sure you'll find your DS will love kindy/pre-school.

DD started at 2 1/2, going to playgroup, now she goes to 3yr old preschool, next year she'll either go to the next age up (4-5's) or to kindergarten (grade 1 here in nsw)

She absolutely loves it, socialising is important to me

My DS1 started Kindy at 3.25yrs. He loved it from day 1.

DS2 (who was 18m at the time DS1 started) would throw a temper tantrum at each kindy drop off as he wanted to stay too. This continued for the WHOLE YEAR.

DS2's favourite days were the days that I was on parental Kindy Duty and he got to stay too.

Personally I would put my child in Kindy at turning 3 by April (am really sad that DS2 is an end of July baby - so he can't go this year).

Totally agree.

Thanks for all your replies...I think I will go ahead with Kindy now, I can always pull him out if he doesn't settle after a few weeks. Someone mentioned what teething had to do with development, it's just that he's been majorly defiant and ferral lately, obviously teeth are hurting him, but Kindy would probably take his mind of it anyway. I guess it's just hard to separate from your growing up baby, though having a very active 17 month DD and being pregnant again, I think I could use the break!!

Oh, to add, this Kindy does allow chn a little under 3 years to start early if there is a position available, you just have to sign a document. (Its a private Kindy).

OP, be prepared. There will be weeks of tears, long days of worry and stress, slight depression, anger and dissapointment. But, you will get over it... kinda.

My son has been going to childcare since he was 2 and my reaction was far more dramatic than his. He absolutely loves it, is ready for 'kindy' an hour before we have to go and runs off in the morning giving me a kiss and not looking back.

I'm the one who still has a little cry though.

DS1 is 4 in June, So a bit older, but he started kindy about a month ago. He loves it! I really thought we'd have tears and a lot of issues getting him to settle in. Well there have been NO tears at all (last week we had a bit of a sad face when I left, but he'd been sick so I tihnk just feeling a bit sensitive). He loves the kids, he loves the routine, he loves the carers.

He goes to a long daycare centre that has a kindy program as that's really all that's available here. Honestly, it's the best thing we did. His speech has improved a million times over (he has a speech delay) and he just really enjoys kindy days. Im also loving the one on one time I get to spend with DS2 now.

My daughter started pre-school (we were UK) the day after her second birthday and thrived. Two afternoons a week for 2.5hrs a time. She had the opportunity to do all the banned activities and interact with other children. I was still in a huge PND fug and couldn't take her out to groups/activities etc so this was vital for her social development.

When we left the UK, the hardest part was saying goodbye to pre-school. We were all in tears. I wish I could find similar for my youngest, we don't need and can't justify daycare but a couple of short sessions somewhere would be great for when she turns 2. She's a July baby so I have no idea when she'll be able to start pre-school/kindy. I think I might go crazy if its 3.5

Good on you for making the decision, sometimes it's hard to see our kids as little people.

My kids wont start preschool until the year before school but they do go to daycare twice a week. They love the activities they do there that we just don't do at home, and they make some little friends in no time.

Every child is different and every situation is different. So far I have put all my girls in 3yo kinder (it's only 2 x 2.5 hours sessions per week) and while I find it a pain because of the shortness of time, they have thrived.

I have a couple of girlfriends who only have one child and they wanted to hold on to their only child as long as they could. Depending how long the session is for I don't think they are too young, but you have to feel comfortable as well.

I'm guessing it's your first we are talking about and for what its worth my first was 3 years and 8 months and I scared and unsure and she was nearly 4.

Good luck with your decision

OP, I know you've already made your decision, but I just wanted to add, I recently found myself in this exact situation - DS1 (who just turned 3) started Kindy last week as the baby of the group I was so torn as to what I should do when I was told by a friend they still had places available for the year - at first I thought I should keep him home a bit longer, then I thought maybe he should go because he's a very busy, active, inquisitive little soul who thrives on stimulation and needs "something" to satisfy his needs, then I felt guilty about putting him in Kindy at such a young age....but in the end, I bit the bullet and went ahead with it. And I am happy to say, he's loving it After 2 weeks he's already trying to sing his ABC's (something I'd been trying to teach him but had been unsuccessful) and counting to 20. And, he adores playing with the other kids, he loves older kids, so this has been perfect for him.



I totally agree with this. DS used to attend daycare, but when I stopped working to have DS2 I took him out. He definitely regressed in a lot of ways IMO. So Kindy will hopefully help in this regard.

Good luck, I hope your little one enjoys it and gets a lot out of it!

Just wanted to add to trust you instincts. DD started kindy this year at the age of 4. She attends 2 days per week 9 - 3pm. Will go to school next year. She loves it and there was not one iota of stress on her behalf or my behalf. She was totally ready to go. She was only looked after by me or DH before that time.

If you are worried about seperation, tears, depressed at the thought of it, then no need to put both of you through it. Plenty of kids wait until 4 for preschool and they do totally fine! Good luck!

I'd say go for it! My DS was 3 in Jan and although most of the kids are older, he really enjoys the social side of things. You will probably be able to stay and help out too so that it isnt a stressful situation for the first while if you need to...

Thanks guys. Unfortunately because I knocked back the position it has been offered to someone else, so we're on the waiting list again...bugger! Hopefully DS can get in soon enough as since my original post he has become a bit of a horror lately and driving me crazy with testing every boundary. He seems to be picking on his 18 month old sister all the time and is not responding at all to time outs . Not sure what's got into him lately, think it has a lot to do with his 2nd set of molars coming through and possibly also just getting bored at home. He is great when we are out and about, so now I have a total change of heart and regret refusing the position...in fact, I can't wait until he starts now, lol...I need the break!!

Hope a place comes up soon for you.

DS1 went last year to 3 yr old kindy and loved it. He met his best frind there abd they still hang out aall the time. So cute!! I found at 3 he really started to become interested in playing with other kids and forming friendships. We had no dramas starting Kindy (st school) this year either

Just secured a position for DS2 in 3 yr old Kindy for next term. I really want him to go as he will be one of the younger kids at school and think he really needs to get used to being away from me and fending for himself so to speak.