Les Jones

It depends. Some kids are ready at 3 or so, but I have also seen kids that were not ready at 5 or 6. Unfortunately, the criteria is absolute age without regard for anything else. One size fits all. (not)

Part of it is the differences in development, but can your daughter sit still long enough for a traditional educational environment? Does she have the endurance for it?

That's largely why we wait, b/c with the task of herding 30+ students, its not like she can work at her own pace. Unfortunate, but true.

Dan: true. I just wish there was more flexibility.

Good point about the sitting still, Toby. We're hoping the Montessori environment will be a good one for Katie.

This is why my diocese offers two years of preschool, then kindegarten.

Preschool isn't supposed to be somewhat educational daycare, it should be an actual learning environment. It's optional, so if a child isn't ready for it, they don't have to be there.

A wait time of "never" wouldn't be long enough, unless you like homogenized children. I was schooled publicly and at home and I cannot express my disgust for the former in words.