Your "Age Group"

[SilverSabre25]

I think my least favorite is about 18months- 2 or 2 1/2. I worked with that group for a few years in the mornings, and moving to preschool in the afternoons. I was so ready for a change by the afternoon, I don't think I would have been able to do a full day in that room.

I flat out don't like 18mos-2, or sometimes it's 15-21mos, or wherever in that "1-2" year the worst behavior falls. They are very hard to work with, connect with, deal with. Sigh. I have a 20mo right now who is just starting to show signs of moving out of that phase, whatever it is. He's going to get fun in a couple months!

[Blackcat31]

My "ideal" age group is the 2.5 yr olds to the new 5's.
Once they get accustomed to 5 though....the like factor starts declining.

I don't really "click" much with the under 2.5's and I will NOT deal with the over 5's.

As for parents.....I have great parents in their 20ies (younger than my own kids) and HORRID parents in their mid-40ies.

I do NOT think age has ANYTHING to do with parenting.

I think personality has MORE to do with it than anything. Basically just the kind of or type of person they are can make a great or horrible parent... I've seen both and for me age played NO role in that.

[Msdunny]

My ideal age group is 1-3. I love seeing and helping their language skills develop and watching them make new discoveries in what they can do. They don't need me as much, but they still need me, KWIM?

I don't accept kids under 12 months...and I prefer around 15 months. There is just too much one-on-one needed at that age and I can't do that with all the others here. If I were to only watch one child, I would consider that age.

To be honest with you though, my own kids are all teenagers, and I love that age. We are slowly transitioning (keyword slowly!) from the "I'm the parent, so I'm the boss" stage into "let's make this decision together" stage. I am great friends with all my kids, even though they know there is a line they can't cross. :: But I really do enjoy them!

[Lyss]

I like the 2-older 4 age group.

I love little babies but not to have in care, just visiting ones ::

[WImom]

I love the 4's. Wish I just had 8 4 year olds. If they could all be girls too that would be even better!
I only care for 2-5y so it's not too bad but I just click with the 4 year olds best.

[WImom]

I have 6 4yro girls just like this. One of best quotes I've ever heard came from one of these girls. Backstory: We were playing balloon tennis and the rule is if you keep tossing up your balloon, I will pop it. Well you can guess what happened next. After popping 1 balloon for not following the rules, DCG said, "I don't know why you're crying 'cause she told you what she was gonna do".

LOL...My almost 5y old DCG today made me laugh when a few of our markers were not coloring very well anymore. She told all the younger kids "Mrs _____ said I can throw these away. I know it's a going to big a big bummer, but they do not work anymore".

The choice of words from 4y old girls makes me laugh every day.

[spinnymarie]

After teaching Kindergarten for 6 years, I am really enjoying preschool, and I have always loved the learning to talk age, from 1 - 3 too. I have a really hard time with infants, like under 6 months, and kids over about 7.
As for parents... I've never met a parent that had 3 or more kids that I didn't like. The closer in age the better - they know crowd control and doing things for the good of the group. The less kids they have, the less they seem to 'get it' although there are plenty of parents of 1 or 2 who do get it, of course. Just more likely with more kids

[originalkat]

I love 3-5's! I especially love the 4's....they are my FAVORITE!!

This is me as well.