Are you wondering what is the best age to start preschool for your child? In Singapore, parents typically start sending their children to preschool between the ages of 18 months and 3 years, depending on the specific programme and the child’s readiness.
This preschool age range is critical in a child’s development, as it lays the foundation for lifelong learning and social skills. These early years are a vital time when children’s brains are highly flexible and extremely receptive to absorbing new information, acquiring skills, and developing essential behaviours.
During this period, children experience rapid growth in key developmental areas, including cognitive, physical, emotional, and social skills. The best preschool programmes in Singapore are specifically designed to nurture these areas through structured play, hands-on activities, and interaction with peers, helping children build a strong educational foundation.
According to guidelines set by ECDA, preschools in Singapore are divided into stages that correspond with the child’s age and developmental progress:
| Playgroup | 18 months - 2 years old |
| Pre-Nursery | 2 - 3 years old |
| Nursery | 3 - 4 years old |
| Kindergarten | 5 - 6 years old |
Each stage provides age-appropriate activities that help children develop essential skills for future learning.
What Age to Start Preschool in Singapore?
The best age to start preschool may differ from family to family, as it is a personal decision based on individual factors and considerations. However, most parents in Singapore choose to enrol their children between 18 months to 3 years old, depending on the child’s readiness and family situation. At this stage, most children are starting to be able to communicate on their own and benefit more from the social aspect of preschool.
In Singapore, preschool is an umbrella term for institutions catering to children between 18 months and 6 years old including childcare centres and kindergartens. You can learn more about the differences between preschool, childcare, and kindergarten which are common terms you will encounter during your search for a preschool.
When used to describe the type of learning centre, kindergarten refers specifically to preschools that operate according to MOE school terms. Unlike childcare centres, the hours are much shorter and typically do not include meals or naps as the focus is on academic readiness. Kindergarten caters to children from 3 to 6 years old.
On the other hand, childcare centres cover longer hours. As the name suggests, childcare centres aim to support parents by ensuring that your child is well cared for during the working day. Childcare centres in Singapore offer a structured environment where children engage in both learning and play activities while benefiting from essential care services like meals and rest time.
KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse is one such premium childcare centre in Singapore with branches spread out islandwide - some of these branches even offer infant care for babies from 4 months to 18 months. Each centre has warm, cosy learning environments, and the centre’s philosophy is built around a firm belief in a positive mindset and meaningful learning experiences.
Playgroup Age: 18 months to 2 years old
Children as young as 18 months can join a playgroup, or toddler class. At this stage, learning takes place primarily through exploratory play, with activities designed to enhance social interaction, sensory skills, and simple motor coordination.
Playgroups tend to be much more informal than later stages, allowing toddlers to get accustomed to being around their peers and being in a structured environment. They are more likely to engage in parallel play and may not appear to interact much with their classmates. However, children observe and absorb much more than we realise, and benefit simply from being around their peers.
While formal learning is not emphasised in playgroup, children still benefit greatly from this early exposure to a social environment, which helps them develop key social skills like sharing, cooperation, and empathy. Playgroup also serves as a stepping stone into more structured educational environments.
Pre-Nursery Age: 2 to 3 years old
Pre-nursery programmes cater to children between 2 to 3 years old and provide a more structured environment compared to playgroup. Pre-nursery introduces basic educational concepts, but the focus is still largely on play-based learning. Tailored activities like arts and crafts, loose parts play, group singing and storytelling help to develop fine motor skills, language abilities, and even early problem-solving.
At this age, children begin to develop early numeracy and literacy skills, and they are encouraged to practise independence in daily tasks like washing their hands and feeding themselves. Pre-nursery provides a good balance between nurturing cognitive development and building social confidence.
Nursery Age: 3 to 4 years old
Nursery 1 (N1) is typically for children who turn 3 years old in that calendar year, followed by Nursery 2 (N2) the following year. At this stage, children are introduced to more formal learning activities, including early numeracy and literacy skills. In these years, they are able to do more structured, tailored preschool activities.
The nursery stage is crucial for preparing children for kindergarten, as they start to follow more complex instructions, engage in group discussions, and their lessons have more of an emphasis on school readiness and independence.
Kindergarten Age: 5 to 6 years old
Kindergarten 1 (K1) and Kindergarten 2 (K2) are the final stepping stones for children aged 5 to 6 years old respectively. In these two years, they are taking the steps to prepare for their eventual transition to primary school. The curriculum becomes more structured, designed to equip children with the academic skills, social behaviours, and emotional resilience required for formal schooling.
School readiness in this phase also includes developing self-regulation, such as the ability to follow classroom rules, focus on tasks, and manage transitions between activities. The kindergarten stage also encourages them to build a keen sense of curiosity and independent thinking, which are vital for academic success in later years.
Nursery school in Singapore therefore builds a strong, firm foundation for the social and academic rigour of primary school.
At KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse, our Inquiring Minds curriculum taps into purposeful play during the early years and progresses to guided inquiry-based learning for the preschool years. This tailored approach ensures that through playgroup, Nursery 1, Nursery 2, and kindergarten, children have plenty of opportunities to learn through play and investigation.
What Are the Key Developmental Milestones During Preschool Age?
Physical development
Children’s pre-nursery years are marked by a rapid development of both fine and gross motor skills. They start to walk more steadily, climb, run, and explore their surroundings - to their parents’ delight and concern! This is also the time that they start to master activities like scribbling with crayons, stacking blocks, and using their hands to explore different textures.
As they move on to the nursery years, children grow more confident in their physical abilities. Gross motor skills, such as running and jumping, become more refined: your little one may now be able to jump over an object or take stairs with just one foot on each step. Fine motor development also continues, with improved hand-eye coordination seen in tasks like stringing beads, cutting with safety scissors, and building taller or more complex block towers. These activities are also typically conducted in preschools such as KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse to enhance children’s fine motor development.
In kindergarten, children’s fine motor skills become more developed, allowing them to write letters and numbers, draw recognisable figures, and perform tasks like buttoning clothes and tying shoelaces. Their gross motor skills, such as coordination and balance, continue to improve through activities like jumping, running, and participating in team sports.
Cognitive development
Children in pre-nursery start engaging in basic problem-solving activities during this time. They enjoy exploring cause-and-effect relationships, like what happens when they push a button or throw a ball. Pre-nursery children also begin to understand simple concepts, such as shapes, colours, and numbers, although their attention spans are still relatively short.
In nursery, children begin to develop early literacy skills, such as recognising letters and familiar words. Simple puzzles and sorting games start to become their favourite activities, as they learn to categorise objects by shape, colour, or size. Nursery-aged children also show an improved ability to follow multi-step instructions.
By K1 and K2, you will find that your children can recognise most letters of the alphabet and begin associating letters with sounds, forming the foundation for early reading. Their numeracy skills will also improve, with children learning to count beyond 10, understand basic addition and subtraction, and recognise shapes and patterns. Their critical thinking skills are sharpened as they solve more complex puzzles and engage in reasoning tasks.
Social and emotional development
In pre-nursery, we start to see our children’s social skills begin to develop, although children at this age often engage in parallel play. However, they do start learning to share toys, respond to their name, and recognise familiar faces. Emotional regulation is still in its early stages, so toddlers often experience frustration and throw tantrums.
This improves in the nursery years as they become better at managing their emotions. At the N1 age, they are better able to express themselves through words, and tantrums may decrease as they learn to manage feelings like frustration or disappointment. They begin to engage in cooperative play, interacting with peers in group activities. They develop early friendships and start understanding the concept of taking turns and following rules.
Finally, children in kindergarten exhibit stronger self-regulation skills, understanding how to wait patiently, share with others, and follow classroom rules. They also form more meaningful friendships and display increased empathy. Problem-solving in social situations becomes more evident as children navigate interpersonal conflicts and cooperate with peers during group activities.
Why is Preschool Important for Child Development?
Preschool is crucial for child development as it provides a structured and safe environment for our little ones to begin learning essential skills through play, social interaction, and early education. It fosters cognitive growth by introducing basic concepts like numbers, letters, and problem-solving for children in playgroup, nursery and kindergarten levels, which sets the stage for their academic success in later years.
Socially, preschool helps children develop critical interpersonal skills, such as cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution. Children learn to manage their emotions, develop empathy, and build self-confidence through their daily interactions with their friends, while guided by caring teachers.
Ultimately, preschool prepares children well for a future of formal schooling by encouraging them to develop a strong sense of curiosity and a love of learning. They learn to become more independent and how to connect with the world around them safely and wisely, enhancing their social development. Overall, it provides a strong foundation for holistic growth and future academic success.
How to Know if Your Child is Ready for Preschool?
Parents would always want to be sure that their child is ready to take the big step into an unknown world. Determining if your child is ready for preschool does not have to be as difficult as you think. One indicator is independence. A child who can follow simple instructions and make small decisions for themselves may be ready to take on the new challenge of preschool. Once they can handle brief separations from you, it might be time to look around for a preschool that suits you both.
Another important factor to consider is social readiness. A child who enjoys playing with others and shows interest in other children will enjoy the social aspect of preschool. They will learn to share, communicate, and work together with other children around their age.
Cognitive and physical readiness also play a role. If your child demonstrates curiosity, asks questions, enjoys solving simple puzzles, and has the motor skills for tasks like drawing or stacking blocks, they are likely ready to start preschool. It is a good idea to track these milestones in your child’s Health Booklet, issued by the hospital at birth. If your child is meeting developmental milestones within the appropriate time, it is a clear sign that they may be ready to join a preschool.
Here are some developmental milestones that your child should reach in the year they turn 2. Tick them off if they apply to your child.
Do remember that this is just a general list of some of the things you might see a child do at different ages, but these are NOT precise guidelines. There are many different normal paces and patterns of development.
Checklist of Developmental Milestones for Your Child
| Your child is able to walk without assistance at this age, able to raise his or her body without using hands, and able to run. | |
| Your child can climb up and down stairs two feet per step, able to kick a ball, and climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted. | |
| Your child can build a tower of six cubes, turn picture book pages one at a time, scribbles on his or her own, and might even use one hand more often than the other. | |
| Your child is able to put on simple clothes without help (usually performing better at removing clothes rather than putting them on). | |
| Your child is able to communicate needs such as thirst, hunger, and the need to use the toilet. | |
| Your child can join two to three words in sentences, and your child's vocabulary would have increased to about 50 to 300 words. | |
| Your child can recognise details in pictures and knows body parts. | |
| Your child will use his or her own name to refer to self. | |
| Your child can understand two-step commands (for example, "give me the ball and then get your shoes"). | |
| Your child imitates the behaviour of others, especially adults and older children. | |
| Your child starts to develop make-believe play. | |
| Your child starts to throw tantrums, doing it when you don’t give them what they want, but they get over it very quickly too. | |
| Your child begins to show defiant behaviour such as negativism: "No, No, No….!" is a very common response for a child at this age. | |
| Your child will exhibit great curiosity at this age, having a fascination to explore - testing things, tasting them, pressing them and squeezing them. |
Source: Healthxchange.sg
How to Prepare Your Child for Preschool?
If you have already picked out the best preschool for your child, you might be nervous about their first day of preschool. Make the transition easier for them by following these tips:
● Establish a routine: Introduce a consistent daily schedule that mirrors the preschool routine. This helps your child get used to structured activities, meal times, and nap times. Make sure they get enough sleep so that they feel rested when they wake up at the time they need to get to school punctually.
● Practice separation: Gradually help your child get comfortable with being away from you for short periods to ease separation anxiety when preschool begins. Take turns with your spouse or grandparents to get them used to varying caregivers.
● Encourage independence: Practise simple self-care tasks like washing hands, feeding themselves, keeping toys, and putting on shoes. Even if they may not be totally adept at these tasks, just practising them together builds confidence and independence.
● Visit the preschool: If possible, take a tour of the school with your child to familiarise them with the environment and their new teachers and friends. It would certainly be scary for a child to be left alone in a brand new place with strangers. Reduce the unfamiliarity by visiting a few times and interacting with the people there.
● Talk About preschool: Discuss what they will do at preschool - for example, meeting new friends, playing games, and learning fun things - to build excitement and curiosity. Talking to them prepares them for what they will see and what they can do when they start school, so that it will not be too unfamiliar, and they know what to expect.
● Be prepared to let go: Clinging to your child and showing your own anxiety and worry will only make it more difficult. Say goodbye confidently and cheerfully. Give them a specific way to look forward to your return - for example, tell them you will be back after lunch - so that they have a frame of reference to look forward to.
How to Choose the Best Preschool in Singapore for Your Child?
When choosing the best preschool in Singapore, parents should consider several key factors, such as curriculum, programmes, cost and location. KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse is a premium preschool brand offering a creative and child-centric approach to early education. With a strong focus on play-based and inquiry-driven learning, KiddiWinkie’s programmes are designed to nurture curiosity, creativity, and confidence in young learners.
Parents should also consider proximity when selecting a preschool. With multiple preschool locations in Singapore, KiddiWinkie provides easy access for families looking for a preschool near work or near home.
KiddiWinkie caters to different early education levels, from playgroup to kindergarten, providing a seamless transition as children progress through stages like pre-nursery, nursery 1, nursery 2, and kindergarten. This ensures that the curriculum is tailored to each developmental phase.
For parents looking for an independent nursery with a well-rounded programme that balances academics, social skills, and creativity, KiddiWinkie offers an enriching learning environment and preschool curriculum designed to support holistic child development.
Finding the Best Preschool in Singapore
Preschool age is a crucial period for a child's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Starting preschool at the right age is vital, as it is the first boost up the ladder that parents can give to their children to help them adjust to structured learning environments, develop social skills, and enhance their independence.
Parents should take the time they need to explore various preschool options to find the best fit for their child’s unique needs. KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse offers a nurturing and creative approach to early education, with tailored programmes and a unique curricula that cater to different developmental stages.
By choosing the right preschool, parents can foster a love for learning and provide their children with the tools they need to thrive in their educational journey.
FAQ
● What should I look for in a good preschool curriculum?
When choosing a preschool, look for a curriculum that promotes holistic development, covering cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth. A good preschool curriculum should encourage play-based learning, with activities that are engaging and allow children to explore, imagine, and problem-solve. It should focus on building foundational skills like early literacy, numeracy, and language through fun and interactive methods. Social interaction is also key, so look for programmes that give children opportunities to play and work with peers, fostering teamwork and communication.
● What is the teacher-to-student ratio in preschools in Singapore?
In Singapore, the teacher-to-student ratio in preschools varies depending on the age group of the children. For younger age groups, the ratios are typically lower to ensure adequate attention and care. Here's a general guideline:
● Infant care (2 to 18 months): 1 teacher to 5 infants
● Playgroup (18 months to 30 months): 1 teacher to 8 toddlers
● Nursery 1 (3 years old): 1 teacher to 12 children
● Nursery 2 to Kindergarten (4 to 6 years old): 1 teacher to 15 children
These ratios help ensure that children receive sufficient guidance, support, and supervision during their time at preschool. However, the exact ratio may differ slightly between preschools, so it’s a good idea to check with the specific centre you are considering.
● What are the language options in preschools in Singapore?
In Singapore, many preschools offer bilingual programmes to cater to the country’s diverse linguistic environment. Typically, children are exposed to both English and a Mother Tongue language, which can be Mandarin, Malay, or Tamil. This helps them develop strong communication skills in more than one language from an early age.
Most preschools conduct their main activities and lessons in English, while the Mother Tongue language is introduced through dedicated sessions, storytelling, songs, and interactive play. Some preschools also offer immersion programmes where a second language is integrated throughout the day, allowing children to learn naturally in a bilingual environment. It’s a good idea to ask about the structure and frequency of language sessions when choosing a preschool.
● How can parents stay involved in their child’s preschool education?
Parents can stay involved in their child’s preschool education by maintaining regular communication with teachers and participating in school activities. Attending parent-teacher meetings, joining school events, and engaging in related activities at home, such as reading or educational games, are great ways to support your child's learning.
Parents will receive monthly developmental updates, along with weekly updates via LittleLives, a communication platform that keeps them informed about their child’s progress, activities, and daily experiences at school.
● How long is a typical preschool day in Singapore?
A typical preschool day in Singapore can vary depending on the program chosen by parents. Generally, most preschools offer two options:
1. Half-Day Programme: This usually runs for about 4 to 5 hours, either in the morning or afternoon.
2. Full-Day Programme: This covers around 8 to 10 hours, providing care and education from morning until late afternoon, which is convenient for working parents.
These flexible options allow parents to choose a schedule that best suits their needs and their child's routine.
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