The typical age to start kindergarten varies by country and region:

• In the United States, most states require children to be 5 years old by a specific cutoff date, usually around August 31 or September 1, to start kindergarten. Some states allow children to start at age 4 if they turn 5 shortly after school begins, while others have slightly different cutoff dates ranging from July 31 to October 15. Kindergarten attendance is compulsory in only 18 states, and the minimum age for entrance is generally around 4 years and 7 months before the school year starts

• In Germany, kindergarten usually serves children aged 3 to 6 years and is not compulsory. Children typically start school around age 6, but kindergarten can begin as early as a few months old in some settings, with formal pre-primary education starting at about 2.5 to 3 years old

• In Belgium’s German-speaking community, children are eligible for pre-primary education starting at 2.5 years old

In summary, children generally start kindergarten around age 5 in the U.S., with some variation depending on state policies, while in Germany and some European countries, kindergarten or pre-primary education starts earlier, around ages 2.5 to 3, and serves as preparation for school starting around age 6.