Freaking Out For Fall!!

[WImom]

I am losing 6 kids by fall due to K5 or K4. (I will be left with 2, maybe three - one isn't sure yet). I normally keep everyone here until K5 but this year alot of my parents are able to do the 1/2 day K4 so they are enrolling their children. I'm considering changing from 2-5y to 18m-5y to maybe stop this huge yearly turnover. Normally it's 2-3 kids so I'm really freaking out this year!

How much is my day going to change if I do this age change? Can I still run my day like a preschool or do I need to change everything? I'm not happy about all the diapers!! I normally only have 0-2 in diapers which I LOVE!

I haven't made up my mind yet. I have one that just left, mom had a baby. Another is a teacher kid that will leave before the school year since she is off in summer. If I can't fill these two spots by early summer I may be forced to change my age. OR hours? I'm open 7-4:30. Could maybe keep age but change to 5pm closing or 6:45-4:45?

So many unknown choices!!

[rmc20021]

P****d!!!

It took half an hour for my dck's to finally fall asleep...then half an hour later a dcd shows up to pick dcg up early and woke everyone else up as he's debating the time he signed in this morning with no respect to the sleeping kids.

I even have a notice on my door during nap time that there are to be NO INTERRUPTIONS between the hours of 1-3 pm.

This is going to be my next family to be termed just as soon as I find a replacement.

I'm sure I will hear from them tonight after they read my reminder about the new policy starting Monday. THEY are the main ones most of the things in it were revised. Maybe they will be the ones to term and will still have to pay the two week term fees...

[cheerfuldom]

taking kids under 2 IS going to change your dynamics. a lot more diapering for sure as well as issues with parents that dont want their baby to be big quite yet....issues about pacis, bottles, spoon feeding, rocking and holding for naps, playing outside or doing big kid activities, wanting to micromanage or have lots of input, kids who have never been in daycare before. just be prepared for those sorts of issues. plus the normal behavioral challenges of younger kids. many will have limited verbal abilities and even physical abilities. my youngest daughter did not take a single step till 17.5 months old so even at 18 months, we were having to carry and lift her a lot. she is almost 2 and still not running. there is nothing wrong that we know of, she's just a late bloomer. she was very babyish physically at 18 months. I wouldnt except most kids under 2 to do a lot of group or seated structured activities. some can handle it, most would need a lot of hands on help.

all this said, i no longer take kids under 2

[WImom]

Thanks! I'm thinking maybe extending my hours a little might be the better option!!

[ksmith]

It will change things a lot. Have you thought about offering a program to one similar to the one parents are leaving you for? Like a half day preschool only program? But still offer full day/daycare type hours for those parents who need it.

[WImom]

I have but I don't think there is a need here. All our public schools offer 1/2 day K4 and full day K5. They don't need to pay for public school except for a small fee at the beginning of the year. I can't compete.

In the past my clients were all both parents working full time so they stayed with me until all day kindergarten since I offer the same thing as K4. Most of these current kids have a parent in school, grandparents that are backup, etc so this makes more sense for them. Hoping my next group is back to what I'm used to.

I'm going to change my hours from 6:45-4:45 and see what happens. I have one that stays until 4:35/4:40 anyways everyday so that won't be to much of a difference and opening 15m early I think will be okay too.

Thanks for the replies. I didn't realize it would be that much different. It's been a long time, my own kids are 8.5y and 10y.

[AmyKidsCo]

I'm in WI too... the whole 4K thing is definitely changing the face of family child care in WI. I was at the Tech a couple of weeks ago and the comment was made that if things continue the way they're going here, family child care will turn into infant/toddler care only, because older children will all be in school.

I'm losing 2 to 4K next fall. I have an Intent to Enroll from the parents of a baby who is due in May, but still have two over-2 openings to fill.

[WImom]

I don't want to do toddlers! I LOVE the preschool age!

[AmyKidsCo]

I know.

I love infants and toddlers but what I love best having a child from infancy to Pre-K or Kdg. I love mixed-age groups too - if I wanted just 1 age group I'd work in a group center.