What Is Your Self Imposed Limit?

[DaisyMamma]

I have my 3 home full time, and 4 dcks, all 3-4 days a week. Some days my 3 are too much, then there are other days I think I can handle a couple more. I think it would have to do more with the children's personalities and how they play together more than the sheer number.

SO TRUE

And so is the mix in ages. School agers just don't work out with the little ones. I feel like I can't keep up with them when the babies are around. I prefer just the younger ones and no kids over age 3, then if they are compatable personalities I would do the full 6 full time that my state allows.
My 2.5yo daughter is a handfull, she's mean to the other kids and doesn't listen, so she requires a lot of my energy to keep the peace. Until she goes to K I don't want more than 3 or 4 including her.
I just had a high energy, 4 yo girl leave my daycare. She was SO loud, nonstop chatterbox that she made me feel like I was watching 3 extra kids.

[mema]

I am licensed for 12. Currently I have 4 full time, 1 part time, and my 2 school agers. The most I have had is 11 (1 was a sibling of one I keep and the rest their providers were on vaca). Thankfully it was summer so we could be outside more. I couldn't do that all the time. I think my ideal number would be 6 plus my 2. Right now because of some transportation issues, I only take 4. next year when my ds moves on to middle school and can take the bus and my dd can hitch a ride on nasty days with the neighbor, I hope to move up to 6 full time and no part time.

[Meeko]

Sixteen kids.....two providers. (includes 4 infants under two years)

Or eight kids with just me. (includes 2 infants under two.)

[Sprouts]

I have 10 kids everyday....for the most part by myself. The youngest is 8.5 mos and the oldest is 5. Two days a week, I have 12 kids with 2 additional kids who could have gone ot Kindy but didn't.

All my kids arrive by 9 a.m. and the first pick up starts around 2:30-3. All but 2 of my kids come 5 days a week.

My kiddos also ALL nap from noon until 2-2:30 every day as well.

99% of my DCK's have been here since birth. We have a wonderful daily routine and RARELY stray from our normal schedule so consistency plays a huge part in how easy it is for me to handle 10-12 kids on my own.

are u by any chance willing to share this routine
I am having a hard time following something, ive seen so many routines but wow 10! And you dont go crazy?! Youre awesome

[MyAngels]

The most I've had is 10 - and I was pretty far out of ratio for my state at the time. They were all pretty close in age so it was easy to handle on my own. I generally keep it to 7 if I have any infants, 8 if not.

[Crazy8]

our regulations limit us at 5 and when I started I thought that amount was low but now I know that's my limit - I much prefer my days with 4 kids, but I can handle the 5. I usually have one baby, so that with 3-4 toddlers/preschoolers is my limit!!

[SunshineMama]

I think it depends on the age of the kids. I am at 6 right now, which is my limit since 2 of the kids are 1 year olds and 1 of them isnt even crawling yet. But I could probably handle 10 3-6 year olds, no problem.

[laundrymom]

10 under 5.

[momofboys]

When my own SA are home from school & I have EVERYONE here I would have 7 & I consider that a LOT & my SA are almost 11 & 8 1/2 so they can take care of themselves mostly. I prefer 4-5 total, I feel much more comfortable. Luckily the "7" doesn't happen very much for me, about 1x a a month & that's enough for me::

[AnythingsPossible]

I am licensed for 10. 6 is perfect, 7 is doable, 8 and I start getting stressed out.

[Blackcat31]

are u by any chance willing to share this routine
I am having a hard time following something, ive seen so many routines but wow 10! And you dont go crazy?! Youre awesome

Thanks! I know it seems like alot but in MN 10 children is the norm and most providers here run at full capacity so although, I appreciate the nice sentiment, I am not all that different than all the other providers here.

I will however, type up our normal daily routine and get a copy of it to you and hopefully some, or all, of how we do things will work for you.

oh, and as far as going crazy.....aren't we all just a little crazy in our own way! LOL!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Thanks! I know it seems like alot but in MN 10 children is the norm and most providers here run at full capacity so although, I appreciate the nice sentiment, I am not all that different than all the other providers here.

I will however, type up our normal daily routine and get a copy of it to you and hopefully some, or all, of how we do things will work for you.

oh, and as far as going crazy.....aren't we all just a little crazy in our own way! LOL!

Word.
::

[JJPlaycare]

I am licensed to care for 12 children and have done so for the past 3 years. Routine, routine, routine, consistency, consistency, consistency is the answer as to how. It also depends on the ages of the children and the children themselves. I get a helper for the summer to go on fieldtrips, swimming lessons and story hours, but all winter I do it myself. I don't have them all here every day all day long during the winter months, due to school, but during the summer I have a full house! I have 3 children of my own who are included in the 12.

[Blackcat31]

I am licensed to care for 12 children and have done so for the past 3 years. Routine, routine, routine, consistency, consistency, consistency is the answer as to how. It also depends on the ages of the children and the children themselves. I get a helper for the summer to go on fieldtrips, swimming lessons and story hours, but all winter I do it myself. I don't have them all here every day all day long during the winter months, due to school, but during the summer I have a full house! I have 3 children of my own who are included in the 12.

I think it is important to point out that in MN 10 kids under school-age is the MAX. If we ever have 12 or even 14, those spaces above 10 MUST be school age children. Even if they are not actually attending school, they must be legally old enough to attend.

On the days I have 12, the 2 spots that put me over 10 are kids who are of legal age to attend Kindy but whose parents choose not to send them.

MN providers are NEVER allowed to have more than 10 kids under school age.

In MN, school age is defined as 5 years of age on or before Sept 1st. However, any children who will be 5 this fall, can be counted as school age children 4 months prior to school attendance. I have one littel guy who will be 5 yrs old in August so he will be "school-age" according to the law and I can count him as a school age child on May 1 even though he is still 4.

The providers own child count in ratios and numbers until they reach age 12. (age 11 on the food program). Once a child reaches age 13, they can be counted as a "helper".

[Ariana]

I should add that when my own child goes to school I'll be able to handle many more kids!! I think having the parent/provider balance is quite stressful for me. Being 100% provider will make my job MUCH easier I think.....or I hope!