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I am in a tight spot. Originally, I was closing my daycare but recently found out that I am expecting baby #4 which means that I will be doing daycare for another two to three years. I am okay with that but the issue was that I lost one of my daycare girls last week (family moved) and I am down to two kids. I have advertised in every way possible (signs, FB, newspaper, CL, etc, etc) and have even offered to take infants again (havent wanted to resort to that) and still, I am getting nothing but people that have really really odd schedules, want drop in care with no commitment, or want dirt cheap prices (like less than half of my current rate!). I have had another spot open for a year with no filling it. It is insane the amount of SAHMS providing care around here and cheap, cheap home daycares....I just cant compete for some reason. Previously, I considered doing before and after school care but could not get enough interest to transition over and I did not want to keep a huge age range of kids so that idea was dropped for awhile. Now, suddenly I have some interest building in school agers again and this might be the time to transition over. I will be keeping only one full timer and need help deciding which one.....
The first one is almost 3. Her parents are excellent people, I have had her since she was a baby. I get paid a full time rate but she is dropped off about 9 and picked up just after 5. The issue is that while she is delayed in almost every way, it is not enough for her to have a diagnosis or be eligible for any special needs schools. She is just started to run so very physically delayed. She has issues with food and we are still spoon feeding her because she will go on food strikes and lose weight (she is already very thin). She can barely spoon feed herself. Delayed verbal skills, cannot follow two step instructions, crys a lot because of the verbal frustrations. She has also recently gotten a bit destructive. She struggles to play or join in activities but she does try, really hard sometimes. I think she just gets bored and resorts to pulling things a part, scratching at stuff and peeling things, stuff like that. in a nutshell, she is harder to take care of but here less. She sleeps a lot though so its not like its all day that I am having to watch her every moment.
The second one is about 20 months. Great parents but she is here the full day, every day 7:30 to 5:30, never varies. She plays better with the kids and keeps up pretty well. Independent and doesnt ask for much. Shes hitting the tantrums but its nothing I cant handle. She does cry sometimes during naps though and she has always struggled with the sleep routine.
so which would you pick...the easier kid that is here more or the harder one that is here less?
The first one is almost 3. Her parents are excellent people, I have had her since she was a baby. I get paid a full time rate but she is dropped off about 9 and picked up just after 5. The issue is that while she is delayed in almost every way, it is not enough for her to have a diagnosis or be eligible for any special needs schools. She is just started to run so very physically delayed. She has issues with food and we are still spoon feeding her because she will go on food strikes and lose weight (she is already very thin). She can barely spoon feed herself. Delayed verbal skills, cannot follow two step instructions, crys a lot because of the verbal frustrations. She has also recently gotten a bit destructive. She struggles to play or join in activities but she does try, really hard sometimes. I think she just gets bored and resorts to pulling things a part, scratching at stuff and peeling things, stuff like that. in a nutshell, she is harder to take care of but here less. She sleeps a lot though so its not like its all day that I am having to watch her every moment.
The second one is about 20 months. Great parents but she is here the full day, every day 7:30 to 5:30, never varies. She plays better with the kids and keeps up pretty well. Independent and doesnt ask for much. Shes hitting the tantrums but its nothing I cant handle. She does cry sometimes during naps though and she has always struggled with the sleep routine.
so which would you pick...the easier kid that is here more or the harder one that is here less?
: will wait
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