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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Optimal Number of Kids
midaycare 10:34 AM 09-26-2016
The SD post got me thinking...what do you believe is the optimal - or maximum - number of children a provider should have?

States really differ on this! I can watch 6 within strict age ratios.

I think 7 kids would be fine with age ratios, and also that would be a good maximum.
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Leigh 10:55 AM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by midaycare:
The SD post got me thinking...what do you believe is the optimal - or maximum - number of children a provider should have?

States really differ on this! I can watch 6 within strict age ratios.

I think 7 kids would be fine with age ratios, and also that would be a good maximum.
I find 12 to be much easier than 4. 12 is very manageable. 2 under 1, 2 between 12 and 24 months, the rest 2 & up.

The only issue that I have is the mixed ages. Outside time is difficult because I have 15 month old twins who CAN'T go outdoors (doctor's orders), so outdoor time is scheduled around their naps (they sleep inside the sliding door so I can watch them and the kids outside at the same time).
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MunchkinWrangler 10:55 AM 09-26-2016
I would say 6-7. Especially keeping within proper ratios. Lots of fun!
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daycarediva 11:04 AM 09-26-2016
I would love to be able to take 8 under 5. I can't with licensing in my state, but I don't take infants so it would be just ages 2-5. I have 6 under 5 daily now, and had two kids aging up to K (and had 8 legally all day in summer) and it was easy peasy!
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midaycare 11:09 AM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by Leigh:
I find 12 to be much easier than 4. 12 is very manageable. 2 under 1, 2 between 12 and 24 months, the rest 2 & up.

The only issue that I have is the mixed ages. Outside time is difficult because I have 15 month old twins who CAN'T go outdoors (doctor's orders), so outdoor time is scheduled around their naps (they sleep inside the sliding door so I can watch them and the kids outside at the same time).
You went straight from 4 to 12

Did you have 12 at one time?

It's funny because when I taught 1st and 2nd grade, it was nothing to have 25-30 kids. But they were all potty trained and followed directions relatively well.
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laundrymom 11:27 AM 09-26-2016
I like 10 but think 12 is doable
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Blackcat31 11:31 AM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by laundrymom:
I like 10 but think 12 is doable


I normally have 10 but these last few years I've had 12.

Like Leigh said...12 is easy... 4 not so much.
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midaycare 11:41 AM 09-26-2016
I agree 4 is low. When I started I had 4 for the first month or so, maybe 6 weeks. It was torture.

5 kids gives everyone a ton of individual attention, and if the ages are right, they play together well.

6 works well. 7 is illegal here but I've done it with a helper - I have a group family home license that I don't normally use. It allows me to have 12 with a helper. I've done up to 10 with a helper, but that just gets crazy for me. That could be because the helper was short term and the kids and situations were short term, so I ended up with most of the work anyway.

I think 7 would be cool, much more than that I would lose control and balance.
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KIDZRMYBIZ 11:44 AM 09-26-2016
I have to say that I like 6 (2 babies, 2 toddlers, 2 preschoolers). For me, it's a pretty peaceful day when that happens. However, I am going through all the same motions daily whether there is 1 here or all 8, and I think it would take nothing to add 4 more to it. But I really like 6!
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MunchkinWrangler 11:47 AM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by midaycare:
I agree 4 is low. When I started I had 4 for the first month or so, maybe 6 weeks. It was torture.

5 kids gives everyone a ton of individual attention, and if the ages are right, they play together well.

6 works well. 7 is illegal here but I've done it with a helper - I have a group family home license that I don't normally use. It allows me to have 12 with a helper. I've done up to 10 with a helper, but that just gets crazy for me. That could be because the helper was short term and the kids and situations were short term, so I ended up with most of the work anyway.

I think 7 would be cool, much more than that I would lose control and balance.
Yes, at my peak I had 7. 1-infant 2-toddlers 2-preschoolers 2-schoolagers. It made for a well rounded group and the ages matched up perfectly.
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lovemydaycare0912 11:49 AM 09-26-2016
Those who have 12, are you able to watch 12 on your own or do you have assistants that need to be there? I think I'd go crazy with 12 under 3 lol since that's the age range I care for. Even with my husband here I think it would be too much.
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jenboo 12:00 PM 09-26-2016
I currently do 5 kids under 2yrs old. I could easily add 1 more. If the kids were 2 and up, i think 12 would be a good number.
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Controlled Chaos 12:20 PM 09-26-2016
I am licensed for 8, but 2 of mine don't count so I have had 10 kids who were are 5y and under.

I typically have 9 and it runs really smoothly.
I think I like 8 best, 6-8 is ideal. I start to get bored with 6 though, and less than that I have more behavior issues and they need entertained more.
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Snowmom 12:26 PM 09-26-2016
I have 12.
I love 12. Perfect amount to me.
Yes, all on my own, no helpers.
8 preschoolers (2-5 yrs old), 2 under 2yrs, 2 SA'ers (mine).

All are presently napping and follow a daily routine to the T.
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Blackcat31 12:31 PM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by Snowmom:
I have 12.
I love 12. Perfect amount to me.
Yes, all on my own, no helpers.
8 preschoolers (2-5 yrs old), 2 under 2yrs, 2 SA'ers (mine).

All are presently napping and follow a daily routine to the T.
this^^^

no helpers. (DH does come into daycare and help but not because he is required too.....he comes because he's lonely at home with just the cats and the dog )

Mine are:
1 ~ 5 month old (infant)
2 ~ 20/21 months (1 boy/1 girl)
7 ~ preschoolers (2 yrs to 4 yrs....5 boys/2 girls)
2 ~ school aged kids (late summer birthdays so waiting until next year to start kindy..... 1 boy/1 girl)

The magic key for me is routine, routine, routine, routine
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Leigh 12:33 PM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by midaycare:
You went straight from 4 to 12

Did you have 12 at one time?

It's funny because when I taught 1st and 2nd grade, it was nothing to have 25-30 kids. But they were all potty trained and followed directions relatively well.
I went from 6 to 12. I used to have a 6 child license because I had some DIFFICULT children and could get a higher rate with a smaller license.
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Indoorvoice 12:35 PM 09-26-2016
I'm allowed 6, but keep my number at 5..that includes my 3 children so only 2 daycare kids. Before I had my baby I had 4 daycare kids and I found the management of parents to be too much for me. Once my baby gets older, I may try to add more kids, but for right now my 2 dck are like family and I love my job again.
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LysesKids 12:43 PM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by jenboo:
I currently do 5 kids under 2yrs old. I could easily add 1 more. If the kids were 2 and up, i think 12 would be a good number.
I use to 5 under twos in AR... in TN I'm limited to 4... I have done six kids 2.5 years & under (2 yrs in IN) easily - it still floors the parents when most, if not all, the littles can be sound asleep @ the same time in the afternoon lol.
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Unregistered 01:12 PM 09-26-2016
I hate that my state only allows 4 unlisecened doesnt matter if there is a assistant 4 per house I was told. i think it can be boring at times with only 4 I would love to have lots of kids, 12 kids sounds like a good amount
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Unregistered 01:30 PM 09-26-2016
My state allows 8. I like 6 to 8. I can't imagine 12 alone!

For 10 years I took infants. I never took more than one infant and one toddler. That was the max that I wanted in that age range.

I now take one and up. I will consider a 9 mo. Old.

I will take take two toddlers and the rest 2 and older.
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midaycare 03:01 PM 09-26-2016
I'm realizing how much more moola I would have with 12 kids...wow! I have 6 now and consider this a great income, particularly with the write offs.

This post makes me realize why we can have such different opinions on similar topics.

If I had 4 kids and you asked me how to handle a discipline issue, I would answer much differently than if I had 8-12. The more kids I have, the more of a rigid ship I run. IME, anyway. With less kids I have more time to intereact individually and the same discipline tactics don't work.

With that said, I love hearing how different everyone's program is and how YOU make YOUR business work for YOU
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ColorfulSunburst 03:27 PM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
no helpers.
here I can work without helper only with 6 kids.
Now I have 12 (no school age kids) and work with helpers. One of them is focused on cooking and keeping the facility clean, the other one works with kids when I do group/individual lessons according to kids ages and knowledge.
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CheekyChick 03:34 PM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by ColorfulSunburst:
here I can work without helper only with 6 kids.
Now I have 12 (no school age kids) and work with helpers. One of them is focused on cooking and keeping the facility clean, the other one works with kids when I do group/individual lessons according to kids ages and knowledge.
Out of curiosity, what state do you live in? What kind of qualifications do your helpers have to have?
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ColorfulSunburst 03:42 PM 09-26-2016
PS For me 3 is better than 1 or 2, 4 is better than 3, 6 is the number for relax ))) Number 12 (without infants) would be great for me if I am allowed to work alone. I use to work In Russia with a group of 25 3yo kids. There was a helper, who clean everything after meal times and helped to get kids ready for going outside.
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daycare 03:44 PM 09-26-2016
I think 10 is easy depending on what you are trying to do. If you are trying to teach writing or such, then I think a smaller group would be better.

I have a large DC with max 14 depending on the age of the kids.. I do have to have an assistant once I have more than 6 or 8 kids depending on the ages of the kids...
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CheekyChick 03:45 PM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by Snowmom:
I have 12.
I love 12. Perfect amount to me.
Yes, all on my own, no helpers.
8 preschoolers (2-5 yrs old), 2 under 2yrs, 2 SA'ers (mine).

All are presently napping and follow a daily routine to the T.
12 by yourself? You are AMAZING!!! What state do you live in? Are you allowed to hire a helper (or two) if needed?
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ColorfulSunburst 03:46 PM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by CheekyChick:
Out of curiosity, what state do you live in? What kind of qualifications do your helpers have to have?
NY.
Helpers must go through a medical exam and fingerprint plus get every year a few on-line courses. That's it.
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CheekyChick 03:47 PM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by daycare:
I think 10 is easy depending on what you are trying to do. If you are trying to teach writing or such, then I think a smaller group would be better.

I have a large DC with max 14 depending on the age of the kids.. I do have to have an assistant once I have more than 6 or 8 kids depending on the ages of the kids...
May I ask what state you live in? Also, how many infants are you allowed with a helper?
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CheekyChick 03:48 PM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by ColorfulSunburst:
NY.
Helpers must go through a medical exam and fingerprint plus get every year a few on-line courses. That's it.
A physical exam? Interesting. Why do you think that is? May I ask how many infants can you have with a helper?
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ColorfulSunburst 03:52 PM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by CheekyChick:
A physical exam? Interesting. Why do you think that is? May I ask how many infants can you have with a helper?
https://www.daycare.com/newyork/
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CheekyChick 04:01 PM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by ColorfulSunburst:
https://www.daycare.com/newyork/
Thank you.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 04:09 PM 09-26-2016
I have 12 on my own (all ages 2-5), without helpers. I am legally licensed.

It's very busy but I like it. If I didn't have bills to worry about, I'd have 9 or 10. It's pretty calm when we have 9 or 10 kids here but still fun.

Once I get under 8...oh me, oh my. BORING. I am bored out of my mind and no, we don't have free play all day . We have a very structured schedule where I'm usually conducting small groups during Center Time so I can monitor them and do something.
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daycare 05:06 PM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by CheekyChick:
May I ask what state you live in? Also, how many infants are you allowed with a helper?
I am in California.
ill have to get back to on my ratios. I don't take infants so I have 12 kids 2-5 and can have 2 school age kids but I don't take school age.

Guess I got rusty on Infant ratios since I don't take them. Lol
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CheekyChick 08:30 PM 09-26-2016
Originally Posted by daycare:
I am in California.
ill have to get back to on my ratios. I don't take infants so I have 12 kids 2-5 and can have 2 school age kids but I don't take school age.

Guess I got rusty on Infant ratios since I don't take them. Lol
Thank you.
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