Too Old For The Babies, Too Young For The Big Kids
 

The school I work at has an under 2 room and a 2-4 year old room. Those just nearing their 2nd Birthday start to transition into the "big kid" room, but they stay sleeping in cribs until they are 2- unless they start to climb out of the cribs before their Birthday.

DCG is about 15 months old. Out of the "babies", she is the biggest (though, not the oldest). She is currently bored out of her mind in the baby room. She loves the littlest babies (under 8 months), but doesn't really understand her own strength and that she doesn't need to climb on TOP of the babies to give hugs.

She also gets extremely cranky and spends most of her day sleeping when she spends time in the baby room.

However, she does GREAT in the room with the older kids. She doesn't quite understand all of the rules back there, but she's catching on fast.

Problem is, she's not even 18 months, so it's too soon for her to transition, and my boss insists that she is too young to be back there.

Problem is, she's really too big to be up in the front with the babies.

How would you handle a situation like this with a child who is ready to transition except for the fact that s/he's just too young.

Personally I would try to find a way to engage the child in the baby room. Bring in some more challenging toys, maybe borrow some from the older room and switch them up every couple days. Explore more sensory stuff.

Also really focus on learning boundaries. If she's not old enough to grasp the rules of the baby room (we don't climb on our friends) then, in my opinion, she's not old enough to move up.

Basically, if she's bored and the room is meant for children her age (which is sounds like it is) then there need to activities offered that engage her.

Originally Posted by TheMisplacedMidwestMom:
Personally I would try to find a way to engage the child in the baby room. Bring in some more challenging toys, maybe borrow some from the older room and switch them up every couple days. Explore more sensory stuff.

Also really focus on learning boundaries. If she's not old enough to grasp the rules of the baby room (we don't climb on our friends) then, in my opinion, she's not old enough to move up.

Basically, if she's bored and the room is meant for children her age (which is sounds like it is) then there need to activities offered that engage her.

This ^^^^ age is nothing but a number and her size should never play a role in anything (other than being carried etc).

I've seen a lot of larger kids be treated older simply because they are bigger (physically but not cognitively or developmentally)

I also agree that her behavior is a clue to the environment.
If she acts bored, its more than likely not her needing to be moved it's that the toys/activities aren't engaging enough for her.