Some toddlers leap into group settings. Others cling tight at drop-off, unsure of what comes next.
You might be somewhere in between—noticing tiny signs, wondering whether it’s time to try.
That thought stays quiet at first, but it lingers. And when it lingers long enough, it usually means you’re already preparing. Always ensure that you are choosing a reputed Waldorf Montessori preschool in Singapore so that the learning journey becomes a rewarding process for your child.
Let’s go over a few real-life cues to help you figure out if your child’s ready for preschool:
They’re starting to notice what other kids are doing
Some kids watch from a distance. Others jump straight into the game, uninvited. Either way, they’re noticing.
A glance, a giggle, a tug of war over the same red truck—these moments matter. They show that your child is tuned into others.
Maybe they’re copying a gesture. Perhaps they’re referring to someone as “my friend,” even if the name keeps changing.
In a child-centered preschool in Bukit Timah, these early social flickers often bloom into shared play, gentle conflict, and group discoveries. It begins with attention. A fine blend of Waldorf-Montessori approaches focuses on the overall well-being of a child – emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually — rather than just being rigidly academic.
They’re slowly getting used to small goodbyes
Maybe they wave as you step out for errands. Maybe they cry, then settle. Or maybe they forget to look back at all.
Each reaction tells you something. Even short separations (fifteen minutes with a neighbour, a trial playgroup, a walk with the helper) offer clues.
You’ll see how they manage the pause, and how they reunite. It rarely looks perfect. However, if they recover, rejoin, or discuss it later, that’s progress.
Readiness often hides in those moments that come and go quietly.
When a Waldorf–Montessori approach is followed, it strikes the right balance in the development of a child. With structure and softness, children figure out how to move forward in their emotional journey. From dependence, they can easily switch to being confident and make small goodbyes joyful.
They’ve started using communication to express needs
Children who can use words, gestures, or expressions to share how they feel often settle better in group settings.
This includes asking for water, pointing to their shoes, or saying “no” with clarity.
Verbal fluency isn’t the marker. It’s about intent and expression.
A blended preschool curriculum in Singapore inclusive of Waldorf-Montessori methodologies, makes early communication become the foundation for a rich, multi-language experience. With clarity and warmth, structure and imagination, communication becomes empowering and emotionally supportive.
They enjoy exploring and figuring things out
Look closely when no one’s giving instructions. Maybe your child lines up spoons on the floor. Or pours water from cup to bowl to plate, just to see what happens.
Crayons get tested on walls, not just paper. A chair becomes a mountain.
These moments are more than being glued to the playtime; they are jolly experiments. Your child is testing, observing, and making sense of things in their own cute little way. It might be messy, but they are catching up in their growth journey.
However, that curiosity builds the foundation for deeper discovery. And in spaces shaped for open-ended learning, like nature-based classrooms, that spirit only grows stronger.
Children love to explore and they have their own ways of pinning down things. In a Waldorf-Montessori environment, exploration is not rushed or expected to happen as per a certain template. Instead, children are trusted to figure things out on their own through their varied experiences, supported by thoughtful communication and rhythm.
They’re beginning to enjoy routines
You might notice your child humming the cleanup song even before you say anything. Or heading to the shoe rack after lunch, almost out of habit.
These little patterns show they’re picking up on structure and often finding comfort in it. No need for fixed schedules or clockwork precision. Rigidity in following routines is not required, and the Waldorf-Montessori blend in the educational approach advocates that exactly. When routines are lovingly designed, children enjoy and look forward to following the routines.
What matters is their growing sense of “what happens next.”
If your child starts to lean into that rhythm (whether it’s snack-then-nap or story-after-snack), it tells you they’re beginning to enjoy the flow of the day.
Final thoughts
Most signs come quietly. They’re hidden inside routines, small playroom negotiations, or how your child reacts after a morning apart.
At our Waldorf Montessori preschool in Singapore, we watch for those same signs as invitations… Invitations to meet each child where they are, not where someone expects them to be.
Our Waldorf-Montessori preschool offers a space where readiness takes its own shape. No rush. No push. Just gentle momentum, rich stories, and the freedom to grow in every direction.