Parent to Parent: Too Young for School?

WSVN -- Is your little one just too little to start pre-school?

If you ask the Sastre family, they will tell you "probably not."

Three-year-old Connor started pre-school right after he turned two, and his younger brother Tyler will follow later this year.

Parents Hildy and Michael say they noticed positive changes in just a few months.

Hildy Sastre: "Their vocabulary expands. They seem socially more outgoing, more independent, more manners as well. They start saying 'please' and 'thank you.'"

Seven's Parenting Expert Dr. Valerie Goode says parents need to ask themselves a list of questions before sending their child off to pre-school.

Dr. Valerie Goode: "Can your child be happy away from you? How much time has your child spent away from you? How independent is your child?"

Also, is your child potty-trained? Some pre-schools may require this.

Does he know how to share toys and adult attention with other children?

How much time has your child spent in groups?

Dr. Valerie: "By that point, they are ready to sit at a desk or sit on the floor and do projects around other children, not always need the teacher's attention."

Dr. Valerie says there are signs your child is ready for pre-school: If he is able to do projects at home on his own, if he doesn't need mom or dad all the time and if he is able to follow a routine.

Dr. Valerie: "It's not going to be all centered around your child, so you have to make sure that you do things in a very predictable way, so your child is prepared to start a pre-school program."

If you prepare them at home first, it can be a very stimulating and positive experience all the way around, as Hildy and Michael have found with their son.

Dr. Valerie: "Kids like to be around other kids, and no matter what you take them to do everyday, they would probably rather be around a bunch of two year olds than their parents every single day."

IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN DR. VALLERIE CAN HELP WITH, E-MAIL US AT: