"Doctor when should I send my child to School?" — is a very common question that we face every day in our professional practice. And obviously it is a very important and pertinent question for the new parents. Depending upon many factors, age of schooling may vary.
Formal schooling starts in our country at the age of 6 to 7 years. Before formal schooling, pre-school education has become popular and well accepted in our society in recent times. These pre-schools, known as Kindergarten or Kinder-garden (literally means children's garden), provide with a form of education for young children that serves a transition from home to the commencement of more formal schooling.
For children who previously have spent most of their time at home, Kindergartens may serve the purpose of helping them adjust being apart from their parents without anxiety. It may be their first opportunity to play and interact with a consistent group of children on a regular basis. Kindergarten may also allow parents or other caregivers to go back to part-time or full-time job.
However, the purpose of KG school is more or less the same. The main objectives of Kindergarten schools are as follows:
* To develop good physique, adequate muscular co-ordination and basic motor skills in the child
* To develop good health habits and to build up basic skills necessary for personal adjustments such as dressing themselves, toilet and eating habits
* To develop emotional maturity by guiding the child to express, understand, accept and control his feelings and emotions
* To develop desirable social attitudes, manners and to encourage healthy group participation
* To stimulate the children's beginning of intellectual curiosities concerning the environment around them
* To encourage the children's independence and creativity by providing him with sufficient opportunities
Everybody admits that institutional education is very important and has no alternative. And pre-schools stimulate early childhood development. So we can say that our children should start Kindergarten education at the age of 3-4 years so that at the age of 6-7 years they can enter formal schools in class / standard-I . Take care of your sweet baby.

The writer is a Professor of Paediatrics at Community Based Medical College (CBMC), Mymensingh.
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