What Is Your Self Imposed Limit?

[SunshineMama]

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!

I agree- I think being a parent and provider is VERY difficult and draining!

[permanentvacation]

We are licensed here for 8 kids. But I can handle 16 - I would think maybe even a couple over that. My sister always ran illegal and doubled the amount of kids she had - hence the 16 kids! I used to work for her and handled 16 just fine. When I worked for her, she didn't help me. She was building onto her house and was doing construction all day long while I tended to the kids. Since we had a good routine worked out for the daycare, I could handle all those kids and probably even more.

[My3cents]

would love to throw out a number but it honestly depends on the children at the time. All children are different and the needs they have are different. I also think it depends on the provider. I am licensed for 12. I take what I can handle and what I want to handle to make my days run smooth and nice. I like being able to give to my kids all that I can of myself and if I am overwhelmed that is not going to happen. Some providers have no choice financially.

[karen]

Depends on the situation....
Here's a crazy story....One of the center's I worked at (was a big center licensed for 256 children.) The pre-k room had 56 kids...to four teachers. One day the other three teachers called in sick and guess who was stuck in room with 52 children all by herself! Finally after lunch time and I had everyone on cots help came in. Oh the director sat at her desk and watched me thru the window! Seriously and you wonder why larger centers have such a higher turnover rate with staff.
I am only allowed to have 6 but I feel I can handle twice that many.

[itlw8]

I am licensed for 10 with 2 under 2 I tend to use one of those for a p/t child

It all depends on the group their ages and temperments.


I need to add our days go very smoothly but evenings with just my 2 grandkids are something else. THen I feel old

[blueclouds29]

Depends on the situation....
Here's a crazy story....One of the center's I worked at (was a big center licensed for 256 children.) The pre-k room had 56 kids...to four teachers. One day the other three teachers called in sick and guess who was stuck in room with 52 children all by herself! Finally after lunch time and I had everyone on cots help came in. Oh the director sat at her desk and watched me thru the window! Seriously and you wonder why larger centers have such a higher turnover rate with staff.
I am only allowed to have 6 but I feel I can handle twice that many.

I've worked in 3 different daycares ( big just as you mentioned your was). Does not surprise me at all! The turnover rate is incrediable at those daycares!!