Readiness isn't one age. It's a match between a particular child and a particular kind of setting — and most of the anxiety parents feel comes from asking the question too generally.
Tammy Gold, LCSW, spent years matching families with nannies before writing Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer (Penguin). Today she works beside families, and their agencies, as a neutral expert: defining the job, interviewing candidates, checking references and setting up the first 30 days.
A socially confident, adaptable child often does well in group care early. A slow-to-warm or highly sensitive child may do better starting later, starting part-time, or starting in a small home-based program before a large center.
That isn't a verdict on your child. It's a fit question, and the same child who struggles in a loud twenty-child room can thrive in a quiet group of six.
Part-time is the most underused option. Two or three mornings a week lets a child build familiarity without an all-day stretch, and tells you a great deal about how they'll handle more.
Readiness depends on your particular child. A Care Map call maps temperament, routines, and family needs so you decide on evidence rather than worry.
$189
$150 / month
Questions first? Text (818) 308-1358 or email info@caremapmethod.com