Same ages or mixed?

[eoinsmom]

I've found that the biggest stress/problem is when you have too big of a gap between ages in the group....at one time I had 6 year olds, 3 year olds and 1 year olds and (2 of each) and it was a nightmare. The 6 year olds were too cool to play with the younger kids, and just plain rude; the 1 year olds weren't walking steady yet and couldn't keep up to the 3 year olds and the 3 year olds were bored with the pace of the 1 year olds. Plus I said I would take the 6 year olds to school and the 3 year olds to preschool; different schools and different drop off/pick ups. (I learned my lesson on that one! no school runs for me anymore) Having a group of 4 toddlers would be just fine once they all got into routine, IMO. I had to do the mixed age group as I started out with an agency, which was a bad experience within itself!

[AmandaKDT]

I've found that the biggest stress/problem is when you have too big of a gap between ages in the group....at one time I had 6 year olds, 3 year olds and 1 year olds and (2 of each) and it was a nightmare. The 6 year olds were too cool to play with the younger kids, and just plain rude; the 1 year olds weren't walking steady yet and couldn't keep up to the 3 year olds and the 3 year olds were bored with the pace of the 1 year olds. Plus I said I would take the 6 year olds to school and the 3 year olds to preschool; different schools and different drop off/pick ups. (I learned my lesson on that one! no school runs for me anymore) Having a group of 4 toddlers would be just fine once they all got into routine, IMO. I had to do the mixed age group as I started out with an agency, which was a bad experience within itself!

It totally depends on the kids - I have an 8 year old, a 4 year old, two 3 year olds, a 17 month old and a 15 month old. I had a 6 year old boy this summer too and that was fine also. They get along great and have lots of fun playing together - I find the two 1 year olds to be the worst for getting along since they are just learning about playing with others. Having the mixed ages is a good thing, they learn lots from each other.

[Artsand crafts]

I have three 15 months old and two 2 year old all full time. I am looking for one more kid to be at capacity and I would prefer an infant because they all get to adapt better to my schedule, meals, nap, rules, etc better than older kids. Market is really tough here right now too. So I'm now open to accept a part time spot (at a higher fee per day, of course) since I have received several inquiries for part time care. I have an interview for a full time spot, but they need care until April/May.

[sunnydays]

Lots of different perspectives. I think the thing is in Ontario, that if we don't take school agers, we have only 1-3 year olds. Then, what I am finding is that by the time they are 2 or 2.5, mom has another baby and the child either leaves or goes part-time due to mat-leave. So really...most of the time it is just one and two year olds. And I find 2 year olds more challenging than one year olds because that is when they enter the testing stage whereas the one year olds are pretty content most of the time as long as they are fed and changed and cuddled enough. I think my fear is that when they all hit the testing stage at the same time, things could get tough. Although...again...c hances are at least one or two of them will leave by then due to new baby siblings. I will think more on it and meet the families and see. I just have such great families right now and such great kids that I don't want to ruin it with a 2 year old who has behaviour issues galore like the last two I had!