for ALL the children in your care, what age would you pick? What is your favourite age to work with ad what would your ideal group look like if you could pick and choose? What is your least favourite age to work with?
For fun and curiosity!
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for ALL the children in your care, what age would you pick? What is your favourite age to work with ad what would your ideal group look like if you could pick and choose? What is your least favourite age to work with?
For fun and curiosity!
I love so many ages for different reasons but I really love 2.5-3 year olds. They are independent, fun and still curious.
12 mos is a lot of fun too as long as they are walking. They learn and change so much at this age. It seems cruel that this is when parents have to go back to work as they are so much fun.
I have dck ranging in age from 9mths to 4 yrs and I have to say my favourite age is 15mth to 2 yrs as they tend to listen well and are just easier to handle. I say this based on my dck of course. My older ones are just way too busy and demanding and I find they are the ones who always need to know what's happening next. The younger ones just go with the flow and are just so much fun as they're really learning something new everyday and its great seeing them accomplish new things and reach new milestones.
In terms of the least liked by me, I'd have to say the little ones (13 mths and under) as they may still not walk and not eating all foods so poses a bit of a challenge to the day when you are caring for a larger group of kids. That and teething as some infants suffer from major pain and discomfort. I have a 12 mth old who screams and cries all day when teething and I just want to poke my eyes out because there's nothing that settles or comforts him. This phase obviously passes and as they graduate to toddlerhood, it's an awesome age to look after :)
I love 12-18 month olds...they are so curious and eager to learn...I love seeing them explore and reach new milestones all the time. I have a lot of little ones in my program right now and I love it!
I think my favourite age is from about 2.5 to 3.5 as they are old enough to do a lot of different activities, to learn a lot of things, etc. I like 12 month olds as well as they are little and sweet. The age I dislike the most is actually from about 17 months to 2 years as I find that is when they suddenly start getting into stuff, testing limits,running away from me outside, etc. And they are too young to understand the rules yet...takes a lot of training at this age and then by 2 or 2.5 they are much easier as they know the basic rules and limits.
Any that don't talk back! lol J/K....
I loved having the group I last had before having my baby: I had one 3 year old, and three 2 year olds. It was a great group; they played with one another and the older ones helped the younger ones.
Now I will have my own DD 5 months and a dcb 9 months! hahahahah
My maximum age is 4 and I wouldn't want to have school agers in care, but I like all the ages from babies to 4. My preference is to have the children as close in age as possible so that they have the same interests. When I have a span from a 1 year old to a 3 year old like I do now there is such a difference in their abilities for creating and crafting and playing games that sometimes only the older children are involved. I like it when all the children can be involved.
I like bringing them into care right after mat leave and they are generally pretty easy going I like watching them reach milestones ...like walking .... But then I'm not fond of the 16 to 20 months but I like the 2-3s as they are talking and singing simple songs and learning the alphabet and they are just more fun and they are doing things for them selves too like potty teak gig and dressing themselves for outdoor time ....
Ages 2-4. So curious, excited to try and do new things, generally willing to listen. No morning naps = more outside playtime and 'field trips' but still need an afternoon nap so I can relax/get things done.
I like the 15 - 18 month olds with the idea of once walking the world totally opens up to them and I love watching that happen as if you can see their head expanding from the new knowledge. Each thing we take for granted is new and important to them and it makes you stop and appreciate what you pass every day without a thought.
Haven't read all the replies, but my absolute favourite age is from about 15 or 16 months on through until 3 years old. Before that, a loooot of work with kids mouthing things, bottles, sometimes not walking, etc, and after that, ATTITUDE! lol
it was so nice to read this forum because lately I have really been dreading getting a request to take care of anyone under two years old. I know, I know I can't pick and choose but actually I can. I prefer the two plus age group and if I am happier taking care of older kids then that is what i will do. I thought most daycare providers just loved babies but now I know it's not always the case. Thanks.
3. I LOVE 3 yr olds. I love their curiosity, their amazement every time they learn something new or figure something out.
They are a bit too old for the 2 year old tantrums and waaaay beyond the needy baby stage and haven't yet reached the sassy mouthy age of schoolers.
If I could have only 3 year olds....I would love my job even more than I do right now.
My favorite age is the 3-4 yr olds not in school. I would have a houseful of these guys! So easy and you can do all sorts of fun stuff or you can just hang out together! They ask the best questions and get so excited about the simplest things! AND NO DIAPERS!!!
My least favorite is any age they are in school I am slowly souring towards this group which is really unfortunate. They are far too expensive to feed and I have had more broken toys from this group and they just don't listen!
Definitely toddlers. Between about 15m and 2 1/2.
I don't mind diapers and sharing issues. I would have a houseful of this age if I could, except that I do find it difficult when doing school pick-up. It is a lot more work to load 4+ littlies, as opposed to one or two and the rest preschoolers.
I have a hard time with school aged, if I am also caring for small kids. The only way I will do school aged again is if I am transitioning out of daycare and that is all I am doing.
I like the babies, younger the better! Right up till about 22 mths, then they get a mind of their own and learn to be sassy/lippy! Ugh, so do not like be sassed off by a toddler. And they seem to pick up fighting shortly after turning 2! Or maybe thats just at my house?? lol