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@Raindrop: DD started preschool when she was 3.5 years old. We found a local center and sent her part time. She's in pre-K now (she'll be 5 in March) and attends 4 days a week for 4 hours a day. She's doing well and will start kindergarten fall of 2016.
DS just turned 3 and we plan on having him start preschool in the spring. He'll go 3 days a week for 4 hours a day to start.

I think starting preschool next year is a great idea. Having taught kindergarten in the past, it is so incredibly helpful in numerous ways for a child to attend preschool prior to formal schooling. In my opinion as an educator, essential!

@Autumnmama79: I'm not sure if this is the best place to ask this question - but what do you think breeds the most success in a preschool, as a kindergarten teacher? I'm touring preschools now and I'm finding myself a bit unsure about what makes one "better" than another. Your input would be appreciated! Thanks!

@Raindrop: Awesome! Hopefully theres something in your area

@math.nerd: When I was seeking a preschool for LO, I wanted something that was going to mimic how I would care for and 'teach' her myself. What I ultimately found was a preschool run by an older woman who really LOVED my LO and the other children there. She worked on basic numbers and letters and colours. Nothing crazy, just the right amount. The other important element is socializing in a way that is similar to kindergarten. Circle time, transitions, outside play time, eating together with other children, etc.

Top 3
1. Loving a caring environment
2. Teaching a few basic skills (writing name, numbers, etc)
3. Practice socializing

Its amazing what a difference we see in children who have vs. haven't had the opportunity to attend preschool. Good luck in your search!

@Raindrop: @Autumnmama79: Thanks so much for this! I guess I'm just having trouble choosing between lovely options, so I'm very lucky! I agree - my main goal is that he is loved and feels safe while he gets some socialization. Thanks for the reassurance!

Well granted the education system is different now, but I was grandma/SAHM/family cared for until kindergarten and had mostly adult interaction with some cousins, neighborhood kids, and church interactions. I transitioned just fine, didn't have issues with manners or politeness - if nothing else I had better manners because I'd been around adults. My brother went to traditional preschool from 8-3pm beginning at 3 and he was also fine. Academically I did slightly better than my American raised brother even though I started off in ESL.

Most European countries don't even have kids learn how to read until they are 6-7 years old and focus on playing in daycare until then. It seems to bear out in the research that shows that regardless of early education approaches, things more or less even out by the time kids are in 2nd or 3rd grade.

I'm not trying to push one method over another - do whatever feels right to you - but I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't think it matters quite as much as people fret about.

@gingerbebe: I agree with you. I think there is tremendous value for both children and adults to being in an environment that is not artificially segregated by age. Socialization certainly happens within one's family and in the community!

@Raindrop: If your son is spending weekdays with Grandma and his little brother, he's getting way more one-on-one time with an adult than any traditional preschool can provide. I wouldn't count a gym class as the "only" socialization he gets unless Grandma is not engaging him at all. I'm betting that she's freaking awesome, though (seriously, not-amazing Grandmas don't agree to help out anywhere near that much!), so I think it's unfair to not count time with her and little bro as "socializing" time, because it certainly is! Even more important, it's positive socialization.

We started ds (also a grandmacare baby) at a private preschool part time a few months before 3. It's definitely more activity based vs formal schooling and has been amazing for him to have social interactions and his language has exploded in the last four months, even though he'd been talking prior to that. He only goes three days a week for four hours! He'll stay there until 2017 because of his late bday and kindergarten starts at 5+ around here.