I'm Crazy

[SilverSabre25]

Tell me I'm crazy. That is, IF I'm actually crazy, which I'm not sure if I am or not.

I'm thinking of switching to caring for only ages 6 weeks to 36 months. Maybe it's me, maybe I just don't like preschoolers much, or maybe it's my house and it's just too hard to meet the needs of infants, toddlers, AND preschoolers all at once with my house the way it is. Either way. I've concluded that my unhappiness with daycare is solely based on the daggone preschoolers.

Hence, the idea to do only 6 wks to 36 months.

I have a 10x11ft room that I use right now as a Nap room. I would transform and redecorate this to be the Daycare Room, a space specifically for the little guys. I would also use half of my largish family room (just down the hall from this room) to be a more open space for playing at certain times (like morning nap for the wee ones).

I want to provide diapers--cloth, that is. They bring me a package of what they use at home and get changed just before pick ups. I will use flushable liners and wash dipes every night

I'm seriously considering if I can manage to provide baby food, too (probably make it myself) but most likely will not. Will do a 4 week rotating menu of simple, easy to prepare and eat stuff for the 1 and 2 yos.

No formal curriculum. Just lots of open ended creative activities, playdough, sensory, water play, balls, crawling, walking, moving grooving, books, and other baby and toddle toys. Walks around the neighborhood. Good food, good naps, good playtime.

AM I CRAZY?

or just desperate?

[LoraJenkins]

If you are crazy, count me in!! I would SO love to care for the same ages solely too! I get so tired of the preschool drama!!!

[countrymom]

I do 4 and under. Well its more like 3.5 yrs and under because then they go to school here. I love my group. Not only do they work well, but they don't get bored as easily, I love watching them discover new things. I supply all baby food, not formula. I had parents in the past bring me expired food, stinky food, food their child will not eat. So I starting supplying it. So much easier, I know what the children like, I also know that its fresh too.

[juliebug]

I would do it too I love infants and used to work in an infant center 6wks to 2years I would do it again In a heart beat

[SilverSabre25]

I do 4 and under. Well its more like 3.5 yrs and under because then they go to school here. I love my group. Not only do they work well, but they don't get bored as easily, I love watching them discover new things. I supply all baby food, not formula. I had parents in the past bring me expired food, stinky food, food their child will not eat. So I starting supplying it. So much easier, I know what the children like, I also know that its fresh too.

how do you work that with knowing what they child has had at home, etc? I'm really curious! This is what I would prefer to do.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

If it makes your heart happy to think about it sounds like a great direction for you to go in! How many would you take?

happyface

[SilverSabre25]

If it makes your heart happy to think about it sounds like a great direction for you to go in! How many would you take?

happyface

I can have 5 not-my kids right now. The sixth is mine 3 of those can be under 2.

[Familycare71]

I live in a ruaral area or I would so do this!!! If the ability is there go for it!!!

[Willow]

I'd love to do the same!!!

As a parent though the consistency in caregivers would concern me though. I personally would prefer my kids have one caregiver/provider birth through school age and I imagine others would want the same. Especially if they had more than one child you know?


It's an awesome idea and if I lived in a more populated area I might try it. That's definitely the age group I prefer hands down

[Laurel]

Tell me I'm crazy. That is, IF I'm actually crazy, which I'm not sure if I am or not.

I'm thinking of switching to caring for only ages 6 weeks to 36 months. Maybe it's me, maybe I just don't like preschoolers much, or maybe it's my house and it's just too hard to meet the needs of infants, toddlers, AND preschoolers all at once with my house the way it is. Either way. I've concluded that my unhappiness with daycare is solely based on the daggone preschoolers.

Hence, the idea to do only 6 wks to 36 months.

I have a 10x11ft room that I use right now as a Nap room. I would transform and redecorate this to be the Daycare Room, a space specifically for the little guys. I would also use half of my largish family room (just down the hall from this room) to be a more open space for playing at certain times (like morning nap for the wee ones).

I want to provide diapers--cloth, that is. They bring me a package of what they use at home and get changed just before pick ups. I will use flushable liners and wash dipes every night

I'm seriously considering if I can manage to provide baby food, too (probably make it myself) but most likely will not. Will do a 4 week rotating menu of simple, easy to prepare and eat stuff for the 1 and 2 yos.

No formal curriculum. Just lots of open ended creative activities, playdough, sensory, water play, balls, crawling, walking, moving grooving, books, and other baby and toddle toys. Walks around the neighborhood. Good food, good naps, good playtime.

AM I CRAZY?

or just desperate?

Not desperate not crazy. You and only you know what makes you happy. If I were you, I'd go for it. I know some do infant to 18 months or 2.

Laurel

[SilverSabre25]

I'd love to do the same!!!

As a parent though the consistency in caregivers would concern me though. I personally would prefer my kids have one caregiver/provider birth through school age and I imagine others would want the same. Especially if they had more than one child you know?


It's an awesome idea and if I lived in a more populated area I might try it. That's definitely the age group I prefer hands down

I had thought of that. But I think many parents are looking for a more formal style "academic" curriculum by 3 and 4. Every child I have cared for that was 4 or 5 has been hell in one way or another. Their needs change so dramatically...and I think that they need more formal preschool and more specialized activities. The mix of infant-toddler plus preschooler has been nasty.

Plus, every interview I've had lately has asked what ages I currently have. I've signed on no one. I kind of think people might be looking for a closer age group.

And, 0-3 is a traditional Montessori group, too

[daycarediva]

I think any specialty daycare has the potential to be a HUGE hit.

I am friends with a local provider that does infant-toddler ONLY daycare, only 6 weeks-2 or 2.5, and she LOVES IT. She takes 2-3 at a time, and charges accordingly (last I knew it was $325/kid, center rates are $300 here for under 2) but her parents ADORE her. She LOVES her job! It's essentially nanny care for a reduced price. She also refers them to me when they turn 2. She tries to get them at the same age/same time once she had 2 6week olds and an almost 2 year old. Now the almost 2 year old is here.

I love preschoolers. I won't take kids under 2. I also love my job, and market it as a preschool.

[kathiemarie]

No, you not crazy. I've been thinking of doing the same thing. I LOVE the littles, over 3 not so much and you can't pay me enough to take care of anyone over 5!

[MyAngels]

I'd love to do that, too. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, I don't know) all of my families want to stay with me until kindy. Almost all of them end up doing the half day preschool thing because they know I don't provide any type of formal curriculum. I do everything I can to encourage them to find a full-day program at about 3.5, but they almost never do.

I think it's like Willow said, they want a consistent caregiver situation.

I should find someone who only wants 3 and up to partner up with I guess.

[EchoMom]

If you were desperate, you would say 6weeks-12 years old, ANY age. And you KNOW you've seen those ads on CL! So no, you're not desperate, your honing your daycare.

I used to have a 4 year old who turned 5 and a 5 year old. I hated it. Now I only have newborn-age 3. I just tell people that I will not give their child the boot at 3, if the group sticks around and age up together, that's fine. But I just won't enroll any new child over age 3 because I want to keep the group close in age. Everyone seems to love that I don't take drop in kids or school agers, it's just a peer group.

My oldest right now is almost 3.5years old and he's been with me since 22months. I care about him, but I can tell the change is really happening. He's becoming too wild and I'm about done with him. He's only 2 days a week. If he were full time I would be exhausted with him. I'm just waiting for a natural break to part ways. I don't want to TERM him, they've been a terrific family and I do really care about DCB. But his mom is having a baby in a few months and I won't have a spot for them, I no longer take PT infants (learned the hard way!). So that will be my time to let them go.