Don’t rush, force, or push your child to start a structured educational plan.  You have plenty time.  However, if you are eager, then cloth yourself with a lot of patience and self-control as your child might not be ready.  It can be frustrating but be not dismayed.  Take it one day at a time believing if your child does not get it this day then maybe the next.  Spend time reading to your child in a coddling environment.  This will make the child want more and more and more.  Seize the opportunity to make every moment a teachable one –inside and outside the home.  It cannot be emphasized enough that your child will thrive if you make lessons light hearted and fun.  Children love any type of books with lots of color and graphics, but they appreciate more when you play act with the reading.  Manipulatives can also be used to help engage the child and demonstrate concepts.  As your child begins to develop a love for learning, then you can add more structure into your teaching.  Ingenuity with patience is the key to getting your preschooler ready for formal teaching.