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Is Your Child Ready for Preschool? Key Signs Parents Should Look For
Luīze Zaksa-Ozola, Teacher at CreaKids Preschool
In Latvia, preschool education is compulsory from the age of five, although most children begin attending preschool between the ages of 18 months and three years. The decision about when to start preschool should be based not only on a child’s age but also on their individual readiness, emotional maturity, and self-care skills. Many children are ready to begin even earlier; however, public co-financing for preschool fees is available only from 18 months of age, which limits families’ freedom of choice to some extent. So, how can parents tell whether their child is ready to start preschool earlier, and what are the benefits of early childhood education?
An Opportunity to Socialise with Peers
Starting preschool marks the beginning of a new chapter – not only for the child but for the entire family. That is why the decision should be made after carefully considering a range of factors and understanding how preschool will affect both the child and the parents. For children, preschool offers an opportunity to socialise with peers, learn through play, and develop a wide range of essential skills. For parents – most often mothers – it also creates an opportunity to return to work, dedicate time to personal interests, and improve their overall well-being. When the transition to preschool is carefully planned and includes an adaptation period, the benefits are significant for the whole family.
Why the Adaptation Period Matters
At CreaKids Preschool, we always emphasise the importance of the adaptation period. It strengthens cooperation between parents and teachers while allowing educators to get to know each child better. Every child is unique. Some are careful observers who need more time before joining group activities, while others adapt to the new environment almost immediately. Parents know their children best and are therefore in the best position to decide when the time is right to begin preschool.
Building Emotional Resilience and Independence
What are the advantages of starting preschool at an early age? A child’s development is particularly rapid during the first 18 months of life. During this period, language skills, independence, and self-care abilities develop at an extraordinary pace. Children begin learning how to share, cooperate with others, and adapt to routines, making a structured daily schedule especially valuable. Early preschool also provides a safe, supportive, and predictable environment where children can gradually develop emotional resilience and independence. They learn to spend short periods away from their parents, express their needs, and navigate simple social situations with their peers. Daily play-based activities foster both fine and gross motor skills, creativity, imagination, and curiosity, laying the foundation for lifelong learning.
Readiness to Learn and a Sense of Security
One of the questions parents ask most often is: How do I know if my child is ready for preschool? The answer has little to do with academic abilities. What matters far more is whether a child is beginning to recognise and express their emotions. Basic self-care skills are equally important -for example, being able to eat independently, participate in getting dressed, and communicate their needs to adults. It is also helpful if the child can separate from their parents for a short period without experiencing excessive distress, shows interest in other children and their surroundings, follows simple daily routines, responds to teachers’ guidance, and gradually joins group activities.
However, it is important to remember that these abilities develop gradually, and preschool itself plays an important role in nurturing them. The key is not that a child already possesses every skill before starting preschool, but that they feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. In other words, children do not need to be “perfectly prepared” before beginning their preschool journey.
What matters most is strong cooperation between parents and teachers, patience, and an understanding that adaptation is a process rather than a one-day event. Every child enters preschool with their own pace of development, experiences, and individual needs. A nurturing environment where children feel safe, accepted, and valued allows these skills to develop naturally. Trust in your child, confidence in the preschool you have chosen, and a supportive partnership between families and educators provide the strongest foundation for a successful start to this important stage of life.