Everyone is different. Some families feel that early education is best, so they might start their children off at 3 or 4 with early childhood education activities. Others will prefer to wait until the child is ready and interested, which might not be until 7. And a huge number of families will start the school year closest to the 6th birthday, which tends to be the “traditional” time to start.

You’re the parent and you know your child best, so let your gut tell you what to do. If you KNOW your 5 year old just isn’t ready to start really studying, then wait. If your 3 year old is clamoring to learn to read and you feel great about it, go for it!

Personally, I’ve chosen to do some schooling with my young sons. The oldest is nearly 4 and since kids around here head off to nursery school at 3, my husband was pretty adamant that we start at 3. We’ve kept it pretty low key though and things are going well. Apart from my husband wanting to do this, I was a child of parents who waited for the “right” age and I recall being horribly frustrated because I wanted so badly to read, but my mother told me I had to wait until the September after my 6th birthday . . . which was in April. I think I could have easily begun reading two years earlier because I wanted to so much, but as it was, it literally took just showing me the concept and I was off! I don’t want my own children to be that frustrated with NOT being able to learn.

However, it really is up to each family to make that decision. Your own experiences and the differences in your children will help you make the decision.