Why Are School Agers A No No?

[Play Care]

For me, I would never take any NEW kids over the age of about 4 or 5.

I tell parents I am NOT a SA provider, but I do make some exceptions for children who have grown up in my care. I had a *horrible* experience with a SA girl who came in first grade - "tween" like behavior and then accusing me of not being "nice" to her:confused: I was so happy when I told them I couldn't take her anymore.

I also think it's important to realize than when a SA kid says the provider is "mean" or whatever, it tends to hold more weight with parents. I was never asked by the parents what was going on, they just believe their "princess" that I was a big meanie

[Laurel]

I think it is hard to do both babies/toddlers and SA together. One summer when I first started my own were SA and I took a few more. That went pretty well. It also depends on the children. I had some good ones and some not so good experiences.

Occasionally I will take a sibling of one I already have. I have one now that is a delight (I also had him when he was a baby) but he rarely comes as they have a friend watch him for free.

Besides not napping and therefore waking babies, they constantly bug you to do things cause they get bored. Plus I don't have a lot of their age toys. They need to be outside more and if you have an infant or two that can't walk that is a big pain too.

I had one that was so bad that I told his mom I couldn't watch him anymore and I had the sibling. I just told her it was too hard to do littles and big kids together because I felt torn on giving them the attention they needed. That is true. But he was reallllly bad. My inspector was there one day for a routine inspection and she said "He just goes around getting everybody riled up doesn't he?" Wow, she didn't know the half of it. I have a gate so they can't get into the kitchen. He took a run and leaped over it. That was it. I told mom that night. I didn't lose the baby either. She knew.

No more for me unless it is grandkids and the one delightful one. I've had other very good ones too so it isn't all of them. But even with the good ones it is exhausting and you really don't get much of a break. Such a looonnnnggg day....

Laurel

[originalkat]

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.

This is exactly right. I have said this over and over. Their every moment is micromanaged in school and they do not know what to do when they have time to play and use their imaginations. Sad IMO.

[originalkat]

I also think it's important to realize than when a SA kid says the provider is "mean" or whatever, it tends to hold more weight with parents. I was never asked by the parents what was going on, they just believe their "princess" that I was a big meanie

Yep. This is so true.

[kitykids3]

For me it is a combination of reasons but most of what was mentioned above.

I personally just do not get along well with older kids because of their sassy disrespectful attitudes.

They don't take naps and I need that time, unless I have babies.

They would be taking up a full time spot just for after and before school and I'm not wasting one of my 8 spots for that.

I don't have things here to entertain school agers and I won't be allowing them to sit on the computer or video games here. i just don't allow it for anyone, period. They'll be bored then because they don't know how to entertain themselves.

They are harder on stuff, more physical.

This is the main reason I opened my own home daycare instead of becoming a teacher is because I have more of a positive impact on their future when they are younger. I was a semester away from getting my teaching degree and when they put me in a 5th grade class and even the 1st grade class for my teaching experience, I KNEW I would not get to have the impact on them that I wanted by teaching them.

[KiddieCahoots]

I think the big thing is that by the time they are done with school, they are so over the structured activities and sitting still and anything cooperative. School is hard work for kids and the last thing they need after school is two or three more hours of a school environment. Yes some of it is just plain out disobedience and disrespect but I think a lot of it is that they NEED some physical outlets at that time of day and they aren't going to get it cooped up with babies.

exactly!
I have tried it, and now prefer the babies and up to 3, because of all the same reasons mentioned above.
Sa's need to let out all that pent up energy they've been keeping in during the day at school.