What Ages Do You Take?

[LeslieG]

I'm getting back into daycare after a 9 month break. We've since moved to a new state so I'll be starting my business from scratch. As I'm planning, I'm thinking about what ages I'll take.

I'm really not wanting to take school-age kids, but am worried that will turn families off (I'm also not taking babies under 1 year). I'd like to keep my group between the ages of 1 year up until Kindergarten... or maybe I'd take Kindergarteners.. I don't know.

What ages do you take? If you don't take school-age and/or infants, does it affect your enrollment numbers?

Thanks!

[AmyKidsCo]

I'm licensed for 2 weeks to 12 years but prefer 3 mos to 5 years. I'll take as young as 6 weeks if I have to, but would rather have them be a little older.

[Blackcat31]

Licensed to take ages 6 weeks to 10 years but I only accept kids under age 1 from current families and I do NOT take school aged children.

NONE of my parents have ever had issues with it since they make more than one trip dropping off already since one kid is in school and one in care.

My community has plenty of school aged programs designed specifically for school aged kids.

I make a point of letting families know that "daycare" really isn't meant for kids in school as their needs, interests and behaviors are beyond the ages I have in care all day.

[NillaWafers]

Right now I will only take 24m+ because I have my own infant to take care of and two babies sounds like no fun. I have a 2.5 year old, a 4 year old, and my own kids currently (3 and 5).

After my baby is mobile 12m+, I would be ok accepting another infant.

[Ariana]

I try to only take kids 18 months and up. I am taking an infant next month though just because it's a sibling.

[Controlled Chaos]

Ideally I would take 18m to 4yo. I have a 6m right now and I can't wait for her to be 1y and not take infants anymore. Days I don't have the infant my next youngest is 14m old and its soooo much easier.

I think my new policy with accepting new children will be no children under 18m unless they are a sibling. And no school aged which is already my policy.

I think not accepting infants would make if harder to stay full IF you aren't good at selling/advertising/marketing the preschool side of your program.

[jenboo]

Under 2.
Huge mega need for it in my area

[lovemydaycare0912]

I have in my handbook 0-6 but I prefer 6weeks to age 2. I have 13 months to 2.5 right now. I will enroll age 2 and under before I enroll age 3 and up. My current kids are fine as they grow older though. I don't mind that.

[kendallina]

I take just preschool age kiddos, ages 3-5. I haven't had any problems with families who have siblings that need to be at another daycare because of my restrictions. But, I am fairly small (only 6 kids) and there is a lot of market for what I do in my town.

[renodeb]

I take ages 6 weeks - 3 years old with an occasional child staying longer than that. I don't take school ages kids either and it really hasn't effected my numbers.
Deb

[TXhomedaycare]

I take 18 months to 4 years old. No infants or SA kids.

[DaveA]

Licensed for 6weeks to 12 years. I won't enroll a new school ager unless it is the sibling of a younger child I'm caring for. I prefer to take infants after 12 weeks but will take after 6 if DCF have to go back to work.

[LysesKids]

Another under 24 months only provider... I find offering Drop-in services when a spot is waiting to get contracted can relieve some of the $ worries because typically you are allowed only so many ratio wise (here it's 4 regardless if I am licensed or license exempt)

[Unregistered]

I've switched to one year and up. I'm licensed for 8 wks to age 10.

I will consider an infant that is 9 months. I'm just not a baby person. I do take SA before and after school with no problems. In my state I can take five SA before and after school along with six preschoolers without extra help. They have others their age to play with and that helps. I have a huge yard for them to run and play in on a quiet dead-end street that borders a wooded area. That is nice for SA too.

I also have a two separate dedicated child care rooms. Having enough space for SA helps too.

Since there is all day 4k here in one close school district and three day 4K in another close school district it is harder to fill than in the old days! I've had to adjust to lots of 1's, 2's and 3's.

[Claraskids]

I am licensed for infant through age ten. However, I advertise infant through age four. I do not take school ages and really prefer the under age three. If all my new ones started with me as babies, I would be thrilled.
My area has a lot of preschool programs and the public school runs a before/after school program. I personally have never had any of my own children in them, but feel no guilt for not providing for that age.