Age ranges at long day care - advice please.

[chrysalis]

Hi all

Our 18 month old son is presently attending long daycare 2 days a week whilst I am back at work.

He is one of the youngest in a room comprised of at the moment 10 kids. The oldest would be about 2.

He has been assessed as being very advanced for his age verbally and socially by our MCHN (not sure how much weight to give to this). I definitely credit his current carers with some of his development.

We have had him on wait lists at other centres as the parent company of our current childcare centre business (which is one of 20 centres owned by the same company) has serious financial issues currently before the court.

We are somewhat worried about being jammed without a care place in a windup and close down situation a la ABC 2008 mid year.

We have just been offered a place in a centre nearby but he is the oldest in the group by about 3 weeks. He has done a couple of orientation sessions there, one with me, one with DH and we both have noticed that our little fella is far ahead of the game compared to the other kids. He is walking, talking and eating well where most of the rest of the children are not yet doing so. As I would expect if I were a parent of a younger child, the carers are presently focussed on those not yet walking and talking as they naturally require more assistance than those a bit more advanced.

I have raised this with his prospective centre and asked that they move him up to the next class which is comprised of 18 month - 2 year old kids but there is not presently a spot in the next room up and the centre has a policy of keeping a group together for the year. One of the carers in the new place expressed the view that the "others will catch up."

I am not so sure especially as he is our only child and we have not really otherwise observed a group of children who are say 18 months - 2.5 years of age and their developmental differences.

We don't really have any backup plans if we lose our place where he is. If our current centre were to close the wait lists in our area would blow out significantly.

Any views?

I would love to be able to think solely on whats best for him and leave him where he is but the practical side of me is worried about being without a spot.

Would you leave him where he is, place him back on the wait list on the new place and the older room and take the punt about the financial viability of the centre or would you move him to the new place into a room where he seemingly might be less stimulated for the sake of placement certainty?


Cheerio

Belinda

[CrystalBoo]

Well I guess it would depend how put out you'd be if you didn't have a place? Can you talk with your director and find out if she can give you any more idea of what is likely to happen?
Although he might be in a younger room in the other centre, all centres must provide a program for each child according to their individual developmental level, regardless of what age/level other children are at. You could ask the other centre about the ways they would cater to his needs - what kind of equipment would be available to someone older, what activities would they plan for him, etc. There could actually be some advantages eg. being the oldest, he may be given more opportunities to help carers and be independent which is great way to stimulate and encourage. Also, if many of the children are having two sleeps and your DS is down to one, he would probably have more time with the carers than you might imagine during those times when most are asleep.
You mention that you are happy with his current carers - that's so important. How do you feel about the staff at the new centre? Do they make you feel as comfortable?

It's a tough position to be in for sure. I can't say which way to go, but I hope you are able to come to a decision you're happy with. Sorry I don't really have an answer for you. Good luck!