Thanks for all your input.
With the little ones I do a sit-down reading session about twice a day, sometimes more depending on everyone's moods that day. Sometimes they are all sitting on me, some days just toddling about. I know they're only a year and attention is short! Lol. I'm going to try stickers, will look at dollar store for big ones, thanks. Everyday we do something like what you mentioned - bringing out a different toy, etc. we have a cubed shelving unit and I do pull out some of the higher up buckets with Potato Head or wood puzzles. It does work like a charm!
I guess I'm not far off what I should be doing by the sounds of it. My husband reassures me all the time. My daycare parents love me and have such relief knowing their kids are well taken care of. I think I need to relax and not be so paranoid that the parents expect more. I am not into providing crafts and arts to go home with the babes. The parents do love it when the kids do yogurt painting and such.
As for my three year old. I am not sure of the reasons for the delay. I'm doing what I can with him. I do make him at least attempt to talk "all done", "please", "excuse me" etc. we say colors and shapes too throughout the day. I kind of had the same thought about him being around the wee ones not helping his case but the parents chose me, he was my first sign up. The child's mom says he gets so excited to come here! He has really taken a shining to My 8 year old son. I can't wait for March break when my son can be here and be a bit of a model for 3yr old.
Thanks again for the reassurance.