5 Kids every day

[daycaremom9]

I started out doing drop-offs & pick-ups, so I had kids from 1 year to 12 years. For the last year I have only accepted ages 1-5 and no transportation to school or preschool. So anything after that is simple. The younger kids(1-3) do a craft 2-3 times per week which we do in the morning. I have them each do their craft with me, (one at a time)and I only have1-2 non-nappers so we do quiet activities like worksheets,crafts, reading or games during nap time. I will sometimes separate the younger ones from the older ones. My daycare is set up so that I can watch both groups at the same time. We have circle time 3 times per week and that is geared towards the majority whether it be the younger or older group. We also go out everyday as long as it isn't too miserable! I also limit myself to 5 children. I find that's quite a manageable number. But I found that when I had extreme age differences, that's what made it awful.

[Spixie33]

Thanks for the feedback guys.
I don't mean that I spend all day teaching with the kids when I have 3 here but I would have time during free time to give each child 10 minutes to do the shape sorter, puzzles to practise motor skills, pom pom sorting by colours etc.....

I find that now I have 5 I am busy even during free play and don't have 2 minutes even for each child. I plan to do something or flash cards with different age groups based on their level and then free play time I am chasing after a dck because they have a runny nose or hurt themselves or something always seems to come in the way now where I don't get a moment to even sit while they free play.

I used to have 3 kids and then the PTers would make it 4 a couple of days a week. I also thought that one more or going for the full 5 wouldn't be much of a stretch -- but it is.

some days I have 4 in diapers and then it is even more insane. Then the other days I have only 3 in diapers and 2 potty trained.

I hope this gets better somehow because these days I feel like I am so busy and the days pass so fast that I am missing giving each child a few minutes of quality time or hugs like I used to.

Then I feel guilty and like a failure because I feel like the quality of care the group was getting with less kids was better than what they get out from me now. I am more like a chicken with her head cut off running from one kids' needs to another and from one meal to another and transitions.