School ager woes

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  • MunchkinWrangler
    New Daycare.com Member
    • Nov 2015
    • 777

    School ager woes

    I love my school agers and they have been super fun girls. But they have been getting comfortable. They can't get into their after school program and their younger sister is enrolled in my daycare full time. I need the income but they are starting to get too spirited, so to speak. Even after I sat them down letting them know the behavior I expect out of them. It continued. I love the family but I have infants and 2 year olds to think about.
    Needless to say, my 2 year olds are picking up some bad habits. Roughhousing, and being very physical to the point where I find myself not enjoying my afternoon after they get off of school. I made it clear that I was not going to stand them being so rowdy, especially because it's a huge liability if someone gets hurt. I am supervising and make sure I don't get caught up in other things but man it's starting to grate a nerve. I set new guidelines but my major problem is my backbone with the parents.

    I guess my question is, should I bring up the behavior? They have been so good this first month but now, all of a sudden, I feel they're taking advantage and even after I put my foot down, it didn't seem to matter. The afternoon ended up being completely quiet with no activities because I was so mad that they couldn't control themselves. Not to mention, we got hit by a huge snowstorm so I wasn't able to send them outside, otherwise I would have.
  • Play Care
    Daycare.com Member
    • Dec 2012
    • 6642

    #2
    With my school aged kiddos, I have to be on top of them. Like it or not, they are too used to being directed all day to allow inside free play.

    So the afternoon is something like this:

    Arrive
    Hang up stuff
    Wash hands
    snack
    Clean up from snack (I have them put any dishes in the sink)
    If they can get outside, I send them out with specific instructions (you may play on the swings, or with the balls or with ________. You may NOT _________)
    They can legally be outside without me, but I try to get the littles cleaned up and ready and out shortly thereafter.
    If we have to be inside, I set up table activity and rotate who goes "up" and who is "down" using a timer. If they have homework, they can do it at this time.

    At NO time are they ever allowed to their own devices, because with 3 SA boys, that means wrestling.
    It works here as my families start picking up at 3:45 and most kids are gone by 4:15, so it's not an all day thing, usually.

    Comment

    • Josiegirl
      Daycare.com Member
      • Jun 2013
      • 10834

      #3
      Hey I would have sent them outside in the blizzard.

      Would they play card games, board games or make bracelets, bead crafts, journal or scrapbook, collages? How old are they?

      I'm going to be kind of in the same situation when vacations hit because I have 4 and under so that's what I cater to mostly. My SA are going to get bored and that's when problems arise. It's hard trying to work with 2 completely different age groups. Maybe you could try some sort of reading chart with incentives to earn?

      As far as bringing it up to the parents, I think I would. All parties involved, I'm sure, would love a positive after school environment. Ask them to help you brain storm what kinds of activities their kids would enjoy.
      I'm actually doing that ahead of time with 4 SA who want to return during vacations. 9 yo DCB wasn't going to come back but dcm said he was begging to. She and I have discussed how the friction between him and 2 other SA dcks made for a stressful summer. So if she really wants to bring him back the parents and I all need to be on the same page.
      I was honestly thinking last summer would be it for me with SA but for some weak reason it's hard to let them go. Plus I do need the $$.

      Comment

      • Blackcat31
        • Oct 2010
        • 36124

        #4
        Originally posted by MunchkinWrangler
        I love my school agers and they have been super fun girls. But they have been getting comfortable. They can't get into their after school program and their younger sister is enrolled in my daycare full time. I need the income but they are starting to get too spirited, so to speak. Even after I sat them down letting them know the behavior I expect out of them. It continued. I love the family but I have infants and 2 year olds to think about.
        Needless to say, my 2 year olds are picking up some bad habits. Roughhousing, and being very physical to the point where I find myself not enjoying my afternoon after they get off of school. I made it clear that I was not going to stand them being so rowdy, especially because it's a huge liability if someone gets hurt. I am supervising and make sure I don't get caught up in other things but man it's starting to grate a nerve. I set new guidelines but my major problem is my backbone with the parents.

        I guess my question is, should I bring up the behavior? They have been so good this first month but now, all of a sudden, I feel they're taking advantage and even after I put my foot down, it didn't seem to matter. The afternoon ended up being completely quiet with no activities because I was so mad that they couldn't control themselves. Not to mention, we got hit by a huge snowstorm so I wasn't able to send them outside, otherwise I would have.
        IME, you are fighting nature.

        They are behaving appropriately for their age.

        You are trying to stop the ocean from moving.

        It may get better from time to time but it's going to continue to happen. Simply because it IS developmentally appropriate and they are so very limited on activities during the school day that allows for physical release/exercise.

        I had some of THE best school aged kids you could ask for.
        Mellow, reserved, kind hearted souls that started in my care at age 6 weeks. Even they turned into "those" kinds of SA'ers despite every effort to not have that happen. After a bit, I realized I was fighting a losing battle.

        They are behaving as SA do and nothing you do is going to change that. Like I said there will be moments of lucidity but there will never be a permanent behavioral change. It's just not possible.

        That's why so many SA programs that take only SA kids are successful and profitable.

        Comment

        • Ariana
          Advanced Daycare.com Member
          • Jun 2011
          • 8969

          #5
          They need structured activites because this is the result of boredom. School agers act like this mainly when they have nothing else to do. Being cooped up all day in school is hard!

          I would have some arts and crafts set up for them to do. I Find art is lacking in schools so they seem to need that artistic release. Also how about putting on a fun exercise video or something like that? Get them involved in taking care of the other kids and cleaning up. This is the age I really crack down on responsibilities like tidying and helping out.

          Comment

          • MunchkinWrangler
            New Daycare.com Member
            • Nov 2015
            • 777

            #6
            Josiegirl, Yes! I should have just sent them out in the blizzard anyway!! :: They are 8 and 6.
            Play Care, thanks, I'm going to hammer out a set schedule. My younger kids thrive and I think you're right, I need to structure their time here.
            Blackcat, I know I'm fighting nature, I originally didn't plan on taking SA's but it happened and I thought ok extra money. I've been learning it is a totally different ball game. I try to give them some physical activities because I know that they've been cooped up in school all day. But they're taking dancing to music to a whole different level. Unless they go outside, I can't have them do that anymore in the house. I honestly wish I had more room, I'm all on one level right now, which is perfect for infant, toddler, preschool, but not so much SA.
            Ariana, I have done lots of arts and crafts but that gets overboard too, I have to accept that the glitter is just never going to go away and I'll find it everywhere.
            I'm going to hash out a schedule and send them outside more. Thanks everybody, you gave me hope!!!

            Comment

            • rosieteddy
              Daycare.com Member
              • Jan 2014
              • 1272

              #7
              Outside is huge especially if you have a large yard.What about assigning a SA to a toddler they help get the little one dressed and at the end of the month a special activity or craft or something.Older kids sometimes like to feel responsible and littles usually love the attention.Just a thought put them to work for you LOL.

              Comment

              • Josiegirl
                Daycare.com Member
                • Jun 2013
                • 10834

                #8
                Last summer during nap time for the younger ones, the older ones would create a menu for the next week. They loved that! Some brought a book from home. Or I'd put a big board in the middle of the living room floor to use as a 'desk', give them markers, paper, fancy scissors, scrapbook papers, stickers, glue sticks, and let them create. Have them tell you some things *they'd* like to do, starting them off with some ideas. Are they into real housework? Lots of ideas can come from that.

                Comment

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