• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Preschool.org

Preschool.org

The one-stop resource for preschool parents, teachers, directors, and owners!

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Play & Learn
    • Curriculum & Lesson Plans
    • By Activity
    • By Alphabet
    • By Bible Story
    • By Book
    • By Celebration
    • By Holiday
    • By Month
    • By Season
    • By Skill
    • By Theme
  • Milestones
    • 2 Year Old
    • 3 Year Old
    • 4 Year Old
    • 5 Year Old
    • Developmental Delays
    • Growth & Development
    • Special Needs Children
  • Parent
    • Behavior Guidance
    • Everyday Life
    • Family Life Events
    • Going to Kindergarten
    • Going to Preschool
    • Homeschool Preschool
  • Teacher
    • Classroom Management
    • Classroom Setup & Layout
    • Daily Schedule
    • Field Trips & Events
    • How to Teach
    • Learning Centers
    • Parent Communication
    • Requirements to Teach
    • Teacher’s Lounge
  • Director/Owner
    • Administration
    • Enrollment
    • Funding
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Parent Communication
    • Programs
    • Sell a Preschool
    • Staffing
  • Online Preschool
    • Start an Online Preschool
    • Teach Online Preschool
  • Start A Preschool
    • Do I Need to Be Licensed?
    • How Do I Sign Up Students?
    • How Do I Start a Preschool?
    • What are the Requirements?
    • What is a Preschool?
    • Who Can Start a Preschool?

Should I Separate Preschool Classes By Age or Skill Level?

June 22, 2021 by Paula Farris

20

SHARES
Share This!
Save This!

We all know preschool classes are for children ages 3-5, but you’re probably confused if you should separate preschool classes by age. There are advantages to having mixed age classes and this post will tell you what they are.

Do Mixed Age Preschool Classes Work?

Having children from 3-5 years of age in a mixed age preschool classroom can be beneficial in more ways than one. The older children will often develop leadership skills around the younger children and the younger children will often become more advanced as they try to keep up with their older peers.

As the children do the Center activities, and work one on one with the teacher, they will have the opportunity to work at their skill level. And, often, students will develop peer tutoring relationships where the children who have mastered a skill teach the younger children how to do the skill.

Your First Year Of Preschool…

During your first year or two of your home preschool the most important thing is for your preschool to be successful. It will be more successful with full classes. Not only will full classes help with your income, but it will also give your students more opportunities to make friends. What do you do in a class with only two students, if those two kiddos don’t like each other?

Scheduling will be much easier if you have 6-10 spots in each of your time slots available for parents to choose from as opposed to 6-10 spots in your 3 year old class, 6-10 spots in your 4 year old class, and 6-10 spots in your 5 year old class. What happens when a parent wants a Monday afternoon spot for their 3-year-old, but that time slot is only for 4-year-olds? You would miss out on a paying preschool family.

While parents tend to look for morning classes for younger students and afternoon classes for older students, it is better to let classes self-separate along those lines than to restrict your registration to a certain age for a certain class. Remain flexible in your scheduling and your classes will fill up faster.

When You Have A Preschool Building

When you grow enough to have a preschool building with multiple teachers in multiple classrooms you have a bit more flexibility to separate children into various classes, but then, instead of dividing them by them by age, divide them instead by skill level. You may have a three year old who knows all their letters, numbers, colors, and shapes, but if they haven’t yet mastered sitting still to finish a project and keeping their hands to themselves, they are not ready to be with children who have mastered those skills

During Center Time the teacher can work one on one with each child to assess their progress and help them develop the skills they will need. Remember each child needs to develop social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and language skills. Be sure to evaluate each child in each area, even if they are extremely advanced in one area or have a severe deficit in one area. Each student needs to master all of these areas.

Whether you decide on mixed age classes or separate your preschool classes by age or skill level, be sure to do what is best for your preschool to be as successful as possible.

20

SHARES
Share This!
Save This!
Category: How Do I Sign Up Students?, Marketing
Previous Post:preschool-extracurricular-activitiesAdding Extracurricular Activities To My Preschool
Next Post:What to Do During Your Preschool Opening Circle Time

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sidebar

Popular Posts

Start A Preschool: The Complete 50-Step Guide for Local and Online Preschool

preschool license

Preschool License: Complete Guide for All 50 States

YOURS FREE! 4 Weeks of Preschool Curriculum!

So easy to follow… anyone can teach preschool with just 5 minutes of prep time! YES, even you!

PRESCHOOL.ORG supports those serving preschoolers by putting every resource they need in one place so they can save time and money. We are the one-stop resource for preschool parents, teachers, directors, and owners with 700+ articles on parenting tips, teacher strategies, business info, and (our fav) the “50 best” preschool activities for every preschool theme! We aim to simplify preschool so everyone can understand and implement best practices. So, whether you’re raising a preschooler, teaching preschoolers, running a program that serves preschoolers, or wanting to start a preschool… PRESCHOOL.ORG is here to serve you!

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • TikTok

Copyright © 2021 Preschool.org · All Rights Reserved · About Us · Terms & Conditions · Privacy Policy

  • Play & Learn
    ▼
    • Curriculum & Lesson Plans
    • By Activity
    • By Alphabet
    • By Bible Story
    • By Book
    • By Celebration
    • By Holiday
    • By Month
    • By Season
    • By Skill
    • By Theme
  • Milestones
    ▼
    • 2 Year Old
    • 3 Year Old
    • 4 Year Old
    • 5 Year Old
    • Developmental Delays
    • Growth & Development
    • Special Needs Children
  • Parent
    ▼
    • Behavior Guidance
    • Everyday Life
    • Family Life Events
    • Going to Kindergarten
    • Going to Preschool
    • Homeschool Preschool
  • Teacher
    ▼
    • Classroom Management
    • Classroom Setup & Layout
    • Daily Schedule
    • Field Trips & Events
    • How to Teach
    • Learning Centers
    • Parent Communication
    • Requirements to Teach
    • Teacher’s Lounge
  • Director/Owner
    ▼
    • Administration
    • Enrollment
    • Funding
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Parent Communication
    • Programs
    • Sell a Preschool
    • Staffing
  • Online Preschool
    ▼
    • Start an Online Preschool
    • Teach Online Preschool
  • Start A Preschool
    ▼
    • Do I Need to Be Licensed?
    • How Do I Sign Up Students?
    • How Do I Start a Preschool?
    • What are the Requirements?
    • What is a Preschool?
    • Who Can Start a Preschool?