Knowing when to send your child to pre-school can be difficult. You want to make sure that they are both socially and academically ready. But every child is different, so no one answer fits everyone.

Here's how to know if your child is ready for pre-school.

Look at Their Social Development

Your child should be able to interact comfortably with other children and adults. They should also be able to follow simple instructions and cooperate in group settings. This could go a long way in helping them adjust to the pre-school setting. They can easily make friends and learn to collaborate with others in a classroom setting.

Thankfully, plenty of pre-schools offer classes for younger children who haven't fully developed their social skills. So, if your child is a little shy or hesitant around others, don't worry. A good student-oriented pre-school can easily accommodate them.

Consider Their Academic Abilities

Oftentimes, most parents start off their child's academic career early, even before enrolling them in pre-school. They can teach the child to identify colors or even memorize the alphabet.

That being said, your child does not need to be able to read or write to attend pre-school. In fact, most pre-schools don't even expect children to be able to do this until they are in kindergarten.

What is important is that your child can follow simple instructions, participate in group settings, and be social with other children. But if they can do things like identify colors, shapes, and letters or recognize some basic words, they're already ahead of the curve and may do well in a more academically oriented pre-school program.

If your child is not yet at this level, don't worry! There are good pre-schools that offer classes for children who are still working on these skills. Just be sure to look for one that has a developmentally appropriate curriculum.

Think About Their Physical Abilities

Finally, you'll want to think about your child's physical abilities when deciding if they are ready to go out into this new chapter. Your child should be able to walk, run, and climb without assistance. They should also be able to use the restroom independently. This way, they won't have to worry about any of these things once they are in pre-school.

If your child is not yet at this level, a good pre-school can offer classes for children who aren't yet fully mobile. They can get the help they need to develop these skills while also getting ready for the academic and social challenges of pre-school.

So, what do you think? Are you now better equipped to decide if your child is ready for pre-school? Keep in mind that these are just some general guidelines to help you get started. Every child is different, so you will want to use your own judgment when making this decision.  

Visit a local pre-school for more information.