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What age ranges exactly are toddlers, preschoolers and Kindergarteners?

I've often noticed that in my country we seem to use different age ranges than in English speaking countries. Sometimes that makes me unsure about the age of children mentioned in questions.

This is the stages we identify in the Netherlands:

0-12 months: baby

1-2.5 years: dreumes (something like 'young toddler'?)

2.5-4 years: peuter (toddler/preschooler)

4-6 years: kleuter (Kindergartener)

How are the different ages/stages classified where you live? Is there a difference between US, UK and other English speaking countries?

4 Answers

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  • D
    Lv 7
    5 years ago

    Generally, 0-12 months would be infant, 1-3 years would be toddler, 3-5 preschooler, 5 years+ would be school-age. I have noticed the word "baby" tends to be more flexible and is often used with any child from infant through preschooler, as a word of deep attachment and responsibility on the parent's part rather than a reference to the child's chronological age. (For example, in a moment of illness, stress, or fear, people will call even their older child their "baby.") In the US there is a wide range of answers to this and different people would not give exactly the same ranges, depending on geography or culture or personal opinion. Can't speak for any other English-speaking countries.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    5 years ago

    Toddler: 2 & 4

    Preschool: 3 & 4

    Kindergarten: 5 & 6

  • 5 years ago

    0-12 months: infant/baby

    12-18 months: young toddler

    18-30 months: older toddler

    2 1/2 - 4 years: preschooler

    5-6 years: kindergartener

    In keeping with Piaget's theory of child development, birth to age 7 are consider "early childhood", with "middle childhood" beginning around age 8.

  • Pippin
    Lv 7
    5 years ago

    Can't speak for England, or even other Americans, but I would put the ranges at:

    0-12 months Infant/baby. (And the first 6-8 weeks or so could also be called newborn.)

    1-2 years: Toddler.

    2-4 years preschooler.

    4 years+ child. (Or the specific grade level could be mentioned if relevant.)

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