How to support families who are waiting

Even if a child isn’t ready yet, you can offer families alternative ways to build socialization and early learning skills:

• Parent-child playgroups: Encourage families to join local toddler groups or attend library storytimes

• Preschool-style activities at home: Provide guardians with simple ways to introduce structure and learning

• Parent-participation classes: Offer short, parent-involved sessions to help children ease into group settings

By maintaining communication with these families, you keep them engaged and position your school as their future preschool choice when the child is ready.

Helping families choose the right preschool start age

At the end of the day, preschool readiness is about developmental preparedness and family circumstances. Your role as a provider is to:

• Offer flexible enrollment options to accommodate different readiness levels.

• Clearly communicate age and potty training requirements to families.

• Provide guidance and resources to help guardians make an informed decision.

• Create a nurturing, engaging environment where every child can grow, whether they start at 2.5 or 4 years old.

Want to simplify preschool enrollment?

Playground makes it easy for providers to manage applications, streamline communication with families, and organize student records—all in one place. Learn more about how Playground can help you run your child care center more efficiently!