Your Average Length Of Enrollment?

[Blackcat31]

Most of my kids come to me as infants and leave as various school ages depending on the age of their siblings. So average, 7/8 years.

Then they come back (on a select basis). Every summer I have one or two that have technically 'aged out' but want to come back in the summer as helpers a few days a week to fill in between camps and play dates and other stuff that the older kids do.

I have that happen too! Some of the best helpers I have ever had have been previous dck's. They know how we roll so it is nice!!

I still had my very 1st dcg until last year, she was a baby when she started and just turned 13! Nearly all of my first group are now teens and have reconnected on facebook .

Typically I get them as babies or toddlers and they continue to come either after school or for summers until they are about 10 or so. The rare times I lose them earlier than this is usually to a move out of the area.

That is fantastic!! My first dck started with me when she was 3. She called me last summer and asked if I had room for HER baby!!! I about died! Where did all the time go?!? It was a nice compliment though that she thought of me for her own child. I didn't have the availability at the time but I see her often and she asks regularly so I am sure I will have her son soon enough.

[AmandasFCC]

Well I just opened up 2 years ago. I lost my first kid ever last August because Mom had another baby and decided to stay home. If she hadn't decided to stay home I'd have both of them now.

I still have 2 of my first, their second anniversary will be early next month.

Otherwise I've had a lot of turn over with my 4+ group, never due to unhappiness, but because of moving, losing jobs, or termination (I've termed 2 four year olds for out of control behaviour) ....

We'll see how my average works out when I have room for babies again

[youretooloud]

Usually four years. Most of my kids go to a certain Preschool at age four. I love this, because I'm really not set up for five year olds. I do have a few part time four/five year olds though.

90% of my kids come to me at under 12 months.

[Crystal]

I'm with Crystal...

The vast majority of my kids come as infants and leave as schoolagers. In fact, this is my last summer with my 11 yo dcb and his 7yo brother...they have been with me since the youngest was 6 weeks.

My average is right around seven years of care.

awww Jen, I went through the EXACT same thing last summer. My 12 year old and his 7 year old brother moved on. They had been with me since the oldest was a baby. It's really hard to let em' go after so long.

[sharlan]

My longest was 15 yrs, yes 15 YEARS. I got her at 3 days old - unexpected adoption and Mom was able to take some time off two weeks later. She will be 17 in August and still comes over a couple of times a week for dinner. I got her older brother at 2 weeks and kept him until he turned 16 1/2 and started driving himself to school.

I would say for the most part, I had most of my kids for about 3-4 years.

[Rachel]

That is an amazing average especially with you guys having so few below age two slots to feed into the over two slots. You should be VERY proud of that... it's saying a LOT in this economy too.

Having them into school age really helps especially when having sibs born into the day care. I rarely ever get sibs. Once the second one is born it's too expensive to have two here.

I feel for the ladies in Canada. Their window of opportunity is SO small. Age one to 3.75 to 4 depending on the age they enter JKindy. I would hate my job if I didn't have these kids for schnittle mook on up. I want the HISTORY of the five years with them. That's what makes me the happiest.... more than anything else about this job.

Here it's even shorter.

Daycare is enrolled for the school year, using approximate cut-off dates the school year uses (here it's end Dec.). Gan (preschool) starts at 3 (so anywhere from 2 years 9 months - 3 years 8 months), so that's the longest you keep the kids. Some people specialize in one age and have a new group every year, some start them as babies and keep the same group for 3 school years. The organization I am working with asked me to take 1 year olds next year because there is someone local who does babies, but doesn't take 1 year olds. I am basically taking her group. I hope to keep them for 2 years and then cycle again, we'll see.

[laundrymom]

I interview 90% of mine pregnant, visit them in the hospital, and get them between 4-12 weeks. I keep them until school age. I prefer not to keep school ages anymore but in the past ive kept them until about 5/6th grade. When their parents decide they are old enough to stay by themselves. I do love my job. I stay friends with the families. I actually mailed out 3 graduation cards yesterday. 3 more of my sweeties are out of highschool. ( man I am getting old)

[morgan24]

Most of the time mine start as infants and age out when they go to school. I did one year of 1/2 days of preschool and kindergarten until they changed to all day kindergarten. It helps that I'm in a small town and at one time there were 6 licensed providers and now there are only 4. Once people get into care they stay.

[jen]

awww Jen, I went through the EXACT same thing last summer. My 12 year old and his 7 year old brother moved on. They had been with me since the oldest was a baby. It's really hard to let em' go after so long.

Thanks. This goodbye is especially bittersweet. The family actually moved a couple of months ago but Mom wanted them to have some time to say goodbye to their friends here. In July they will start at the new school's summer program, which I know will be good for them. Meeting new friends before the school year starts is really for the best but we will miss them.

[daycare]

I only take 2 and up, so mine are all usually here until they leave for school.

However, due to the economy, a lot of families are moving out of expensive SF to cheaper places. A lot of my families have moved out of state in teh last two years. Right now most of my kids have been here about 1.5 to 2 years. Only one has been here for 3 and he will be leaving us for kindy in the fall....

[momma2girls]

My shortest enrollment was 2 days, and the longest was 5 yrs.