is it too early to start my child to go to school?

Philippines
December 12, 2006 10:42pm CST
my son will be turning two years old in january. the principal of my nephew's school has offered him to start pre-school in june, which is the start of the school year here. he will be 2 and a half by then. I think its still too early for him to go to school. but the principal says that he is a very intelligent young boy and is quite advanced for his age. he can readily identify pictures of animals and things and he is starting to count on his own. he is also able to identify letters. thats why the principal thinks that he is ready. but i have misgivings on letting him go to school in such an early age. what are your opinions on this?
3 people like this
68 responses
@arvee17 (730)
• Philippines
13 Dec 06
baby - child
my son who just turn two can identify a lot of different animals, can count from one to ten and can identify the numbers that i've said. he knows a lot of nursery rhymes and can identify some letters on the alphabets. i am also amaze on the progress he is doing. but i think, two years old is still young to go to school. i would rather let him play outside and enjoy himself more. this stage is a very important age for them. some kids who start to go to school early becomes stress easily. parents also expect a lot from their children. although we don't say that but we feel that. so, in my opinion just let him enjoy his play time for awhile... don't let him grow too fast... it is better for him to enjoy his time with you than to spend his time some where without you..
• Philippines
14 Dec 06
i think youre right. i dont want my son to grow up too quickly. i want to him to be my baby for as long a possible. but im pretty worried that he might miss out on an opportunity to learn more. there are somethings that he wont learn here at home that he can get from school. i guess i still have weigh the pros and cons.
• India
13 Dec 06
Hey.... he is only 2 and why do you want to pressure him up. If he is quite advanced for hi age, then why need to take him to school, he could learn of his own, right? May be i sound a bit rude but, that principal should be very mean to make money. my suggestion would be leave him free fot atleast a year and half and let him enjoy his infant days and dont pamper him. You will also have time to cuddle him and adore him.
• Philippines
14 Dec 06
whats what my misgivings are in letting him go to school early. im not pressuring him. but at the same time, im afraid that he might miss the opportunity to nurture his talents more. he is very advanced for his age and he likes being with other kids. but i am also worried that he might get tired of school early if he starts going to school early.
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
13 Dec 06
Since you still have some time, I would take him to get his IQ tested. If he tests high, I would try to put him in the courses. If he doesn't have the maturity to handle the courses, you can always take him out and home school him. How does he compare to toher children his gae, does he seem advanced? If you trest him and his ecudation correctly he may be able to skip a few grades and finish high school and college year. Just keep encouraging him and he will flourish.
• Philippines
8 Jan 07
i think i will do that. i would like to know how high his IQ is. thank and have a nice day!
@xtinelee (3371)
• Singapore
13 Dec 06
I don't know about you but in my country, some parents send their kids to school at the age of 6months to 1 year old. :)
• Philippines
14 Dec 06
6 months, that is really early. what do they teach 6 month old babies?
@simyss (125)
• Singapore
13 Dec 06
It's never too early to start educating and nurturing a child. :)
• Philippines
9 Jan 07
my sentiments exactly. thanks for your response.
• United States
10 Jan 07
personally i would start him out in school at 3 or 4 years old. he will be in school the rest of his life and i dont think a 2 and a half year old would enjoy school so much. as they are still small and exploring things. he will still have a chance to show his academic abilities in school a year or so later. just go over things with him at home like books or numbers or abc's. that will help him get ready for school in the coming years. no child is ready for school at that age and i think you should let him grow and expand on his own at home with you.
@nilzerous1 (2434)
• India
14 Dec 06
In my country, where education has become a huge burden now-a-days, we do not like sending children to school too early,atleast, less than two years of age. We have to consider once started, the baby will start getting involved in studies and will have to say goodbye to childhood. So, please follow norms of your country.
• United States
14 Dec 06
My little girl went to a private school offered by a church, but we had some run-ins with it. It's great if you can get a really good school for him, but most want older kids that can talk good and that sorta stuff.
@1grnthmb (2055)
• United States
14 Dec 06
It is never to early for a child to start learning. Statistic show that children who go to preschool do a lot better when they get older.
@suren2k6cse (2621)
• India
14 Dec 06
yes it is to early
@mbs730 (2147)
• Canada
14 Dec 06
Well I hate to say it but so many are sending their kids to school at a very early age. I admit I am guilty of it too. My son is only 2 and a half and he is in school and my daughter is 4 and a half and will be going to school for full days 5 days a week. We are all getting a really early start oh and she is already getting homework!!
@123Jackey (284)
• China
14 Dec 06
as you described,your son is a smart boy,if the school provide good teach and the teach fit for him,then he should go to school.
• Philippines
14 Dec 06
child - great child of yours!
test your child, send him to school and observed him. if his doing good then thats good and if not then maybe next two years or five.
@juvilyn (37)
• Philippines
14 Dec 06
yes coz she/he will develop early,, she will learne a lot, you can also teach him, insted to send him/her in school
@_hope_ (3902)
• Australia
14 Dec 06
they say the younger the child starts learning the more they will retain but two seems a little young i wouldn`t even consider it until three years at the minimun
• India
13 Dec 06
yes wait for one more year
@soldenski (2503)
• United States
13 Dec 06
Put him in school, if it doesn't work out, you can alway's stop sending him. If nothing else he can interact with other kid's his age.
• Italy
13 Dec 06
I think he is to young yet to go to school, you are right when you say you have misgivings on letting him go to school, why don't you cuddle him a little more, maybe next year he will be ready to go to school, or better you will be ready to let him go to school. :)
@mauier113 (688)
• Philippines
13 Dec 06
My daughter started also recognizing alphabets, can memorize short poems, a very talkative one at her age, one year and 8 months. I'd even recorded her activities that time. But I waited for her to be 3 years old when I enroll her to a preschool and she still excel in her class. I didn't enroll her early because even she's advanced for her age, I sill want her to enjoy her being a child, I was afraid early schooling for her might give her a too much pressure at her age. She's now in her 4th grade, very enthusiastic and enjoys her schooling very much.
• United States
14 Dec 06
I don't think you should let him go to school yet. Let him enjoy a little bit more of those precious toddler years :)