Why Are School Agers A No No?

[Little Buttons]

I have seen it posted in various threads that school age kids are harder and some do not take them anymore. I am just honestly curious as to why. I will open in August and we live ditrctly accross the street from an elementary school, so I would like to be informed before I go down that road

[CraftyMom]

School agers just aren't for me. I personally do much better with babies and toddlers. Others are geared more toward older kids. It's a personal preference.

There's nothing wrong with the SA kids themselves, but when mixed in an environment that is geared toward a younger crowd the day can be hectic.

It's harder to keep them occupied

They do not nap

They do not keep quiet during nap, waking everyone else up

They are often mouthy (not all, but most these days)

They get rough with the littler ones without realizing it, someone always gets hurt

They are often the biggest offenders of running in the house, rough housing, etc. Which makes it harder to keep the younger ones from doing so

They get bored quickly in my program since I am geared toward a younger crowd

These are some of my personal gripes with SA. However, there are some providers that do very well with SA and would prefer them over babies. It depends on what you prefer. I think it's something you have to experience to get a good grip on it. For me, in concept it seems fine. But reality is a different story.

Good luck with your opening!

[Moppetland]

Honestly, I don't take them because I can't deal with the disrespect. I have had them in the past. If I had all SA, that will be different because I would have a day of plans specifically for that age group.

But it's very hard to have DCKs under 5 all day, then here comes the rowdy kids that create uproars. You can't deal with them constantly if you have infants and toddlers that need your attention more. You would think kids that old would be easier to have in care because they are mature enough to listen and do as told.

I use to take them if they were part of a sibling. But the older ones would always undermine me when I'm taking care of their youngest. For instance:

"My brother (or sister) can't do that. S/he doesn't like it".

Or, "Why does Johnny or Susie have to go to time out?"

So, no thank you. I really don't have time for that. It's too much trying to train them when they already have their way at school and home. IMO.

[Tdhmom]

School agers just aren't for me. I personally do much better with babies and toddlers. Others are geared more toward older kids. It's a personal preference.

There's nothing wrong with the SA kids themselves, but when mixed in an environment that is geared toward a younger crowd the day can be hectic.

It's harder to keep them occupied

They do not nap

They do not keep quiet during nap, waking everyone else up

They are often mouthy (not all, but most these days)

They get rough with the littler ones without realizing it, someone always gets hurt

They are often the biggest offenders of running in the house, rough housing, etc. Which makes it harder to keep the younger ones from doing so

They get bored quickly in my program since I am geared toward a younger crowd

These are some of my personal gripes with SA. However, there are some providers that do very well with SA and would prefer them over babies. It depends on what you prefer. I think it's something you have to experience to get a good grip on it. For me, in concept it seems fine. But reality is a different story.

Good luck with your opening!

All of the reasons above for me too. The older ones teach my younger ones not to listen it just makes my days long and nights and weekends even shorter ::

[originalkat]

Yep. The reasons stated above are why I do not take them.

[Blackcat31]

School agers as a whole are not a bad thing at all.

Having them WITH a mixed age group os by far the hardest thing I have ever been through.

SA'ers are developmentally so far beyond the preschoolers and toddlers that it becomes difficult to manage.

SA'ers use language that is inappropriate for the younger crowd (lots of potty mouth-type talk etc), play differently (rough, cliques, etc) and simply add an element of constant backtalk, disrespectful behaviors and the need to be continuously redirected.

Alot of providers manage SA kids just fine if they have the space and the equipment to keep them occupied. SA'ers require much larger spaces, bigger equipment and DIRECT and FIRM reinforcement or they WILL take advantage.

They are bored easily, rarely eat well and complain ALOT....my guess is that they are so used to being "micro-managed" in school that left to plan their own day is something they have issue with and the results are the above.

If I just had SA kids, it would be fine. But the influence they have on my preschoolers and toddlers is NOT something I am willing to deal with.

[hope]

If you take SA then your program should only be geared towards SA. They need constant activities, stimulation, education and guidance that is very different than what you give little ones. Mixing the two age groups usually results in chaos.....it is very difficult to supervise both age groups and one ends up suffering. The little ones can get hurt or the older ones become bored and misbehave.

[craftymissbeth]

I like school agers.. only if I ONLY have SA in my program. I like preschoolers, but only if I ONLY have preschoolers.. same for infants/toddlers.

For me, I just can't do mixed age groups. I know most home daycares are mixed age, but for me it just doesn't work out.

[Tdhmom]

I like school agers.. only if I ONLY have SA in my program. I like preschoolers, but only if I ONLY have preschoolers.. same for infants/toddlers.

For me, I just can't do mixed age groups. I know most home daycares are mixed age, but for me it just doesn't work out.

Me too! I only have 3 year olds this fall. I've tried school agers, toddlers and crawling babies and it is the most stressed out I have ever been! Once my 3 yr olds age out for kindergarten I'm calling it quits. I don't want to start over training new kids.

[KatieG]

I have had SA's in the past when I absolutely needed to fill spots to maintain my income, but I won't take them anymore. No naps = no breaks for you!

Plus, as stated above, mixed age groups creates chaos. They want to watch TV shows that just aren't appropriate for littler people. They want to play outside but it's time for baby's feeding. You finally get the little ones down for a nap & think you can take a break, but they want a new activity.

And siblings are the absolute worst! They go from fighting with each other to the older one trying to defend the younger one's poor behavior.

No thank you, I'll stick to my little people! All of my families know that age three means time to move on!

[GKJNIGMN]

It depends on the kid but I have found them to be very disrespectful and they constantly complain. They want me to entertain them or let them play video games or on my computer all day.

I have also found that by the time I get a kid that old, changing their eating habits is impossible. They won't touch pretty much anything I serve and then will immediately run to parents at pick up and complain that they are hungry.

I do have one child now who is in kindergarten and she works out well but she is extremely immature and will be repeating kindergarten next year so that is probably why she does great with the little kids

[Play Care]

School agers as a whole are not a bad thing at all.

Having them WITH a mixed age group os by far the hardest thing I have ever been through.

SA'ers are developmentally so far beyond the preschoolers and toddlers that it becomes difficult to manage.

SA'ers use language that is inappropriate for the younger crowd (lots of potty mouth-type talk etc), play differently (rough, cliques, etc) and simply add an element of constant backtalk, disrespectful behaviors and the need to be continuously redirected.

Alot of providers manage SA kids just fine if they have the space and the equipment to keep them occupied. SA'ers require much larger spaces, bigger equipment and DIRECT and FIRM reinforcement or they WILL take advantage.

They are bored easily, rarely eat well and complain ALOT....my guess is that they are so used to being "micro-managed" in school that left to plan their own day is something they have issue with and the results are the above.

If I just had SA kids, it would be fine. But the influence they have on my preschoolers and toddlers is NOT something I am willing to deal with.

This.
The other day my 9year old SA boy (who is solid for his age) grabbed my 3 yo dc girl(also his cousin) roughly around the arm. I don't think he meant to hurt her, but he did. Keep in mind those "arm grab"type injuries look very suspicious...I am done with them this summer and am so relieved.

[mom2many]

I had just infants & preschoolers when I first started. As my own 3 kids got into school, I began watching more s/a kids & switched to only s/a for about 5 years. I took a cut in pay, but loved being to take field trips and activities geared to my own kids ages.

For the past 10 years, I've had mixed ages. It really depends on the kids! I currently have 2 s/a girls ages- 10 & 7 and they are great with the little ones! They read, play games & are a big help- just as my own 3 kids were. The little ones adore them and are so excited to see them after school.

However, I recently termed a family though... dcb was 8 and dcg was 5. They were not a good fit with the younger crowd and would take toys and cause problems almost every day after school. They were always so sneaky & conniving and I had to be extra vigilant watching them & it was worse than having a toddler!

It can definitely work! I've had a ton of success with having toddlers & s/a.

[jenn]

My number 1 reason is transportation. I don't want to load all my littles up and drop off/pick up school agers. We are too far away to walk. My car is not big enough to hold that many car seats anyway.

I used to teach public school kindergarten. I don't have a dislike for this age. I enjoy my daughter's friends (age 5-9) coming over when daycare kids are not here. However, having school agers here along with newborns, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers is very difficult for me. CraftyMom's list says it all!

[Little Buttons]

Thank you all for your input! I can see where that could be problematic. The school accross the street has a before and after school program so I doubt I would even get calls about that. Additionally, because we are so close busses won't run to our house, I am uncomfortable with them walking alone and I am unwilling to walk them myself with multiple babies/toddlers in tow. I had thought about taking SA for summers but I think I will wait and see how things play out. Thank you all!