All my kids are currently in seperate rooms but with my new addition starting at the end of the month and my baby being due in June, I need to rearrange. All the kids will be gradually moving to the basement. I plan on putting them in seperate corners and dividing them possibly with room dividers or curtains. I think it is important that they have their private area, eventhough they are sharing a space. I hope it will go well, but I except that the transitioning won't be easy.

Anyway you plan it, just expect that the transition will be harder, naps will be shorter and the kids will likely be tired in the afternoon. When I started my daycare last May, the napping part of the day was very difficult as my 2 year old needed to get her head rubbed to fall asleep but my 11 month old would be in the next room screaming and my son, 13 month old at the time, would be babbling away. As for my 3 year old, he had a hard time understanding the concept of "quiet time" and kept either singing loudly or selecting noisy toys.... I was hard but short lived.

I would suggest that the 3.5 year old be on the main level or further away from the kids... all depending what you have planned for him/her during the quiet time. You absolutely want to ensure that the older kids don't bother the litttle one's naps.

Good luck with your starting daycare! It is really fun and rewarding when things are well planned.