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There is not a best or a worst time to start preschool.  It all depends on your reasons, and if the choice of service you make matches well with your reasons. 

For example, some parents involve their children in Playcentre from birth. It can help cope to cope with the awesome role of being a parent and the huge challenges in  parenting.  Playcentre can provide a fabulous opportunity to meet and chat with other parents, to watch their parenting, to gain advice and good information about child development.

For families new to an area, starting at a preschool can really be good for developing networks, both for parents and for children to meet up with other children.

If you are not seeking childcare and just want your child to get a head start for school than do what many in our parents generation did – they sent us along to a part-day preschool for 2 – 3 hours, 3 - 5 days a week from about age 4.

Whether or not your child has reached all his/her developmental milestones for his/her age does not matter for starting preschool. Teachers work with and support children where there are at in their development and will help to get any extra support your child might need.

The preschool experience will help your child to:

• develop confidence to be alone without you,
• get an introduction to life within an institutional setting,
• learn to talk and listen in group discussions,
• develop strategies to cope with being part of a large group of children from different families/cultures/abilities, and
• learn many other things too. 

There are other articles in this section explaining about the different types of early childhood services and articles on costs & charge, and what to do if you have a complaint.

If you are a ChildForum member you can access articles and discussion on current issues and problems in early childhood services

For quick ideas on activities and things to do, click here ...