How Long........

[HappyEverAfter]

7 months. Total newbie, especially compared to the rest of you! I have no idea how long I’ll do this. At least the next 4-5 years. Maybe longer. As long as it makes me happy, I’ll keep doing it. 😊

[MyAngels]

If you don't count my time working at a center, 25 years for me. I thought I would stay in it until my grandkids were all in school, but since it seems my two youngest won't be having kids anytime soon I'll be too old to wait that long ::. Probably another 5 or so years as long as my health holds out I suppose.

[DaveA]

20+ years total for me, 12 this May in home daycare. Not sure how to count exact number of years as I've been around childcare. I started working in my Mom's center when I was 16 (I'll be 44 next month). I worked 6 years part time while I was in school. Left the field for 3 years to do social service work.

As for retiring- no set date. As much as enjoy doing this it is first and foremost my job. I have a hobby that is turning itself into a business. The day it makes more $ sense to do it instead of childcare (probably a few years off) I give notice and close up.

[Jamie]

I've been watching kids for 10 years, opened my home daycare 6 months ago and plan to retire in 35-40 years 😊

[Cat Herder]

24 years in private home childcare, 8 years in centers prior to that (started at 13 with work permit as paid after school playground assistant, with an additional few years overlap, shift work). I also worked part time jobs throughout. I am 45 for a just bit longer.

I don't see retirement before a minimum of 20 more years. It may not be from this field, however. Opportunities keep popping up and eventually I will find one too difficult to pass up, I feel it. :::: I have spent my life with availability to my family as my top priority, that seems to be shifting as they become more self reliant and I have fulfilled my parenting goals.

[Snowmom]

I'm in my 11th year.
There are things I love and things I loathe. The state's involvement and push for universal PK being the #1 loathe.

I plan to stop within the next year or two because of the regulations. Not because I don't enjoy my job, because most days I do. I just despise how much the state is involved and they keep inching in more and more.

[LittleScholars]

I've been open 2.5 years, but taught elementary school for over a decade before opening.

I hope to stay open long enough to see all of my current and future children off to K... so maybe 8 years?

I'm finding myself missing adult interaction, but hope that taking more time often during the summer next year will help.

[Claraskids]

This is my fourth year, but not all at the same location or consecutively. Took a year off to care for my parents.
I have worked with kids in one form or another for over 30 years: babysitter, camp, homeschooling, classroom teacher, tutor, etc.
Retiring from childcare in 6 months or less. Hubby has a chance at a job transfer so we will be putting our house up for sale by the end of the school year. Not sure what I will do at our new location but I have already started another part-time home business.
I did check out what it would take to be a licensed provider in the new state....not happening!

[momofsix]

Did a couple of years in a center and have been a home provider for almost 27 years i took one year off in there when we adopted two of our girls.
I'm not sure about retirement yet. I'm almost 52 so still have lots of time. If regulations and STARS get too bad I'll quit at that point and look for something else. Otherwise I'll keep at it for as long as possible.

[Denali]

I’ve been doing this for 7 years in August. I was planning to do daycare until my kids went to high school. My oldest is in K this year.

But things have changed. My son is special needs and I have some health problems, that while none of it interferes with caring for kids or anything, daycare is definitely NOT helping or making life any easier for my family. Just really to much that needs to be done and with me working 50-60 hrs a week and my husband working 40 hrs it’s almost impossible to get doctors appointments, O/T, PT, and speech appointments done ��

We are trying to get another business up and going right now. So I will be going legally unlicensed or just babysitting here and there for current enrolled families by August this year when my license expires. ��

With all the changes with licensed daycare and it now costing more and needing more time and money that I just don’t have to keep licensed it’s just not worth it to keep going.

[Jdy2222]

2.5 years this round, I'm currently planning to retire when my youngest goes to high school in about 5 years ... but sooner wouldn't be so bad (love the kids, but today was a rough day).

[Papa]

how long

I have been in childcare for 36+ years. I am almost 63 and see no retirement coming. I will do this till my body won’t let me anymore.

[LaLa1923]

I am in my 6th year! I plan on doing this for as long as I am able.

[Pandaluver21]

I've been open for 10 years and will "retire" when I'm dead

[flying_babyb]

been a daycare teacher for 15 years, If all goes well "retiring" from daycare in june-ish, moving to Chicago and becoming a cop (or as a back up plan, security guard)