Appropriate age groups in daycare centers.

[Jessica]

Hi everybody,

My son is now in daycare where he's in a "toddler" group. The owner defines toddler group this way: any infant that is able to walk through 3 yrs old.
My son is now 2.5 and he's the oldest in the group.
I don't feel that children with possibly over 2 years gap should be in the same classroom. How would a curriculum be designed to address motorskills development of young toddlers and social/interactive skills of older twos?

Are there any rules for daycare centers that regulate this?

I'm in PA.

Thank you for your replies!

Jess. :confused: :(

[Unregistered]

At my center we have a Pretoddler room and a Toddler room. Pretods is anywhere from 13 months-2 and the toddler room is 2-3. Once a child is 3 they then move onto the preschool room. If your center age groups mixed like that, in my state it is ok, just as long as they use the ratio for the youngest age group. Ex: the youngest child in that room is 9months(which in my opinion should still be in an infant room, just beacuase they walk doesnt mean anything) and the oldest kid is 2.5, they must use the ratio that would fit a child of 9 months, because that is the lowest age.
**My son is 16 months and still doesnt walk, that means at the center you go to he would be in the baby room, but yet a 9 month old may walk and be in a room with 2.5 year olds...doesnt make sense to me. Good Luck.