In modern times the school age is reducing daily and it worries me to hear that parents send their babies and toddlers to school as early as 18 months and they expect them to start reading and writing. Hey parents! what happened to play school or simple 4/5 years school age? I fear that with the trend, parents will start sending 1 month old babies to school soon. I honestly want to know the views of experienced parents/educationist here.

My baby will start school at age 3 - 4 month after my maternity leave.

Vikin: My baby will start school at age 3 - 4 month after my maternity leave.

See what I mean? be very careful or else I shall report you to hm hm hmm, pleaseeeeee, send him to a baby friendly daycare that will allow him to sleep, play and eat in peace

Relax. When people say school, it is actually creche or playgroup. Most schools admit children into reception or pre-nursery from 3 years of age. Any other one is just playgroup where they eat, play, dance, listen to music and sleep to their heart's content. Have you ever heard of "ota akara"? Its just a way of saying that you are sending your kid to school to eat akara! i.e creche.

yes ota akara, I like and dont mind but when the parents begin to gripe and demand that they want to see the ''dividends'' of school fees in the form of reading and writing for toddlers it annoys me. Some even begin to employ lesson teachers so they can catch up

I also posted here and got a few responses
http://www.nigerianparentsforum.com/index.php/topic,50.0.html

Hmm the issue of how prepared a child is for school is important. Some early starters have so much of school before they are ready that they are burnt out by the time they are really ready for serious schooling. Parents beware of this. On the other hand some kids are just too ready to start schooling you cant keep them off. Those ones fare better. So each child should dictate the pace.

9 months!

4 years. Any age younger it's still day care.

1 year

Nice job!

A child should start school when he/she is in his/her fourth year. I myself started nursery school when I was 3 (although it was my fourth year).

My wife wanted my son to start school at 2, but i refuse, due to pressure , i give in after 26month...
I think it depend on the growth of each chil, but i will like them to start at 3.

Spirit of Okija: 1 year

No way! My 9 months was a joke. Ideally, a child should spend at least 2 years at home.

At age 2. But primary shld be at age 4.

maclatunji:

No way! My 9 months was a joke. Ideally, a child should spend at least 2 years at home.

Im serious..

School for me includes Creche.. The kid needs to learn independence from an early age, also how to associate with other kids as well...

The normal age should be between 4 - 6 years and anything before that is daycare and this depends on the country's legislation so it will be nice to know what has been stated in the case of Nigeria.

Okay i just got it and it is six years like it is obtained in the western world, the so called nursery schools is not part of our education system and what is allowed only is daycare which should be conducted either in the mothers tongue or future education language ( not compulsory ). In the western world some kids are sent to one year pre-primary school to learn how to write and make them comfortable with their future compulsory education ( not compulsory too).

kids should start primary school at age of at least 5. any age younger than this should be termed child abuse

3 to 4 years when the child's brain is ready for pressure that come with learning.

I believe by 3, a child shd b ready 4 formal learning. They might go 2 school b4 that but it shd b play class where d aim is 2 get them used 2 being around other people & 2 allow them have some independence. Anything else is not only a waste of money but a way of crippling ur child's ability 2 learn. It annoys me when schools conduct interviews 4 admission into play class or pre-nursery.

In those days u start start school from age 5 years. You go to primary one straight. But it's been bastadised like everything else in this country.
Becos people are misguided many now dump their kids, some only months old, somewhere and go after their own affairs. Sadly, these
kids grow up without parental nurturing. Now we are paying the price for neglecting our children - violent cults in schools, area boys,
yan kalari, armed robbers, boko haram etc. Pls ask yourself, did your parents bring u up the way u are bringing up your kids? Gosh, a child coming
to the world now is coming at the wrong time if the parents are working class - he/she will end up in the hands of some crude househelp.

My son started d Toddler class @ 1yr 6months. By next sessiön's commencement he'l b in nursery @ 2yrs 6months. By calculation he should b in pry one @ 5yrs 6months which is ok by me. I started my pry sch @ exactly d month I clocked 6yrs, finished my Sec sch 3months b4 I was 18yrs & University Educatiön @ 25 yrs 6months. I never failed. wonder how pple finish @ 21-22yrs!(govt uni).

Icon4s: My son started d Toddler class @ 1yr 6months. By next sessiön's commencement he'l b in nursery @ 2yrs 6months. By calculation he should b in pry one @ 5yrs 6months which is ok by me. I started my pry sch @ exactly d month I clocked 6yrs, finished my Sec sch 3months b4 I was 18yrs & University Educatiön @ 25 yrs 6months. I never failed. wonder how pple finish @ 21-22yrs!(govt uni).

Most people graduate secondary school at 16.. In Nigeria, 15/16 is the benchmark age for graduating secondary sch such that by 22, you should have graduated your Masters degree..

My baby is goin 2 b one nxt month, she's a smart kid and learn quickly but I think dat doesn't mean I shuld enrol her 2 sch nw but a nice daycare wuld do until she's 2yrs b4 she start normal sch.

mu2sa2: In those days u start start school from age 5 years. You go to primary one straight. But it's been bastadised like everything else in this country.
Becos people are misguided many now dump their kids, some only months old, somewhere and go after their own affairs. Sadly, these
kids grow up without parental nurturing. Now we are paying the price for neglecting our children - violent cults in schools, area boys,
yan kalari, armed robbers, boko haram etc. Pls ask yourself, did your parents brought u up the way u are bringing up your kids? Gosh, a child coming
to the world now is coming at the wrong time if the parents are working class - he/she will end up in the hands of some crude househelp.

u made a nice point.

School fees is cheaper dan daycare,18 months,2yrs is ok 2 start play group cos d earlier d better.

When they are ready. It can be 4, 6, and even 20. No matter what you do to force them, an agbero will be an agbero.

First daughter started sch at age of 9 month,passed her sse at 13.8yr,second started at 10month finish at 14 while d third still sch ss2 at 13.so let them start early u will enjoy it.

2mch: When they are ready. It can be 4, 6, and even 20. No matter what you do to force them, an agbero will be an agbero.

lwkmd.

Once the child can call Mama and Papa aloud and clear and can walk.

I finished my second sch at age 15 and got my BEng @ 20yrs. I don't know hw my parents did it, but I am doing the math becos my son has to follow suite. I am thinking of starting him pre nursery at 1yr, then nur 1 at 1yr 6months

When the right hand can cross over the head and touch the left ear.