Almost...

Reggio I totally agree. And I had actually always said I would NOT do kindergarten/school-age but I have had so many calls for it that I thought I would give it a try. Now I am starting to think I should go back to my original plan!

I have one kindergarten child and I have given his parents notice. It feels so good. I really thought that it would be nice to have a child signed up that would not be here ALL the time. What was I thinking? They are more work and less pay. After a few months I have finally come to my senses. I feel bad for him and his parents but I just had to let him go. I can not wait to fill his space with a nice little 1.5 year old cutie that I will be able to train. lol Oh my new year is going to be a good one!
His parents even offered to pay me full time rate but I turned that down. They are just too much work! Along with the bad attitudes and the fact that they require more activities & crafts, more food etc. ----I pass. I guess I just can't do that age. They make me grouchy and I don't like that.

I think that you said you were going to only take them at the full time rate. That is smart. If you are going to do it, don't take any less! I almost want to charge more for them once they get to school. :D

I love WEE children and have all the patience and passion for engaging them ~ but school age children are not my forte ~ school age children are like alcohol they are nice in small doses for a little entertainment but too much of them I end up with a headache the next day ;)

Ugh...no don't do it! I have to drag the little ones out morning and afternoon to drop off and pick up my own JK son (he is full day luckily) and I HATE doing it! We are always rushing! Especially in winter...six snow suits (my daughter is home too) and rushing them all out and the stress of not being on time...in fact I am thinking of trying to get someone to walk him because as teh weather gets worse, it is harder and harder. Snacktimes are interuppted and I can't follow the schedule I would like to in terms of snacks, outside play etc. Because once I get them all dresses, we are going to play outside whether they like it or not (LOL) and that means delaying snack (if I serve it before leaving we are late) and then they are having snakc and lunch only an hour apart...it is all just a big pain!!! And if I had someone wanting to pay be $25 day for all that hassle...forget it! I honestly wouldn't even do it for a full day rate at this point...way too much stress....and I haven't even mentioned the age challenges that come with it. I have a child who is going to school this coming September and I told her parents that if they want me to take her to and from the bus I will have to charge my full rate even though she is at school full days because it takes a full space and is a pain (and I will only do it if her bus comes very near to the time of my son's bus).

Thanks Daisy and sunnydays! Hearing everyone's point of view and experience is making me feel a lot better about not signing this child (or any school-age child) on. I really do love this forum!

Happy to be able to help you. Like Sunnydays said, Don't do it. :)
I love this place too.
Just remembered one more thing. We have one day a week that is early dismissal and that is a long day. Not to mention that you will have them every time there is a P.D. Day which is once a month or more. and don't forget the Feb break, Easter, summer etc etc. Sure it is more income and that is what I would tell myself but it is a long day entertaining them the older they get. Also they get fussier the older they are and when the holidays rolled around I did not enjoy cooking for kids with BIG opinions on food for 5 days in a row. lol
AND they have opinions on EVERYTHING. :woot: