Big kid area?

[bright sparks]

I shadow the younger ones who trash the older kids masterpieces. Depending how young they are it works fairly quickly if just as they are about to go into destructive mode, I sternly remind them not to touch the big kids toys. My 9mth old dcb is obviously a different matter all together but the 14mth old no longer bothers my 2 1/2 yr old dcb.

I have a much smaller daycare space now so don't want everything separated. Also they have to learn. I may put them in the playpen if I REALLY have to have a break from a child who is particularly bad at doing this but I also don't want the kiddies to associate the playpen as a place to play, only for sleeping, otherwise it could backfire if they are regularly put in one to play.