Big or Small...Preference

[MommyMuffin]

For home based providers:
How many kiddos do you have? Big or small daycare?
Wondering what is considered a big daycare.

Also, why do you choose to be big or small?
Just curious as I decide where I want my business to go.
Thanks

[childcaremom]

I am small. I am legally unlicensed and allowed to have up to 6 children. I cap at 5 as a personal preference.

I have no desire to go larger. It would require licensing, a different location and need for co-workers.

I prefer to work alone. I have a close connection to the children while they are in my care and not sure I would have that same connection with a larger group. I like that I can gear what I am doing to who is in my care. I like working from my home. I am here if my own children need me or are sick. I can change my game plan if and when I want.

I would consider going larger if I knew I could fill the spots easily with awesome families and kids, I had a perfect location to do it from and I had an awesome co-worker.

[Blackcat31]

For home based providers:
How many kiddos do you have? Big or small daycare?
Wondering what is considered a big daycare.

Also, why do you choose to be big or small?
Just curious as I decide where I want my business to go.
Thanks

I have 12-14
I am classified as large group care
MN license class C3

I operate differently depending on how many kids/ages I have in care. Some years/partial years I am a C1 or C2 but always keep the larger license class (C3) just in case.

This year I have 2 SA kids that are not actually starting school and will wait a year. Increases my capacity so I will operate between a C2 and C3 this year.

I choose to keep a full boat simply for the money. It's great money and since I have a separate house for daycare, I have additional expenses that most don't.

If I were do operate in my own home, I can't say I'd have as many kids as I do now, heck I am not sure I'd even operate a child care. The separate space eliminates so so so many issues.

So my short answer is:

MN
Large group care
12-14 children (3 mos - Kindy)

[Second Home]

In MD (in my county ) you are licensed for 6 children but can apply for 8 and still be considered a small family home child care . Over 8 and it would be large .

All child care s must be licensed in MD.

[Leigh]

Right now, I have 14 enrolled, but can have only 12 in my home at one time. I have 7 full time kids and 7 part time kids. Mondays are light days around here, and I can have 3-6 kids here on Monday. I usually have 9-11 in my home on a given day. I used to not allow part time at all, and used to be licensed for only 6 because it allowed me to get a higher rate for my kids on assistance (at the time, all but one was assistance), and because I had some very difficult children and didn't feel safe having more kids. Now, I find that the more kids I have here, the easier they are to care for.

[midaycare]

In MI you must be licensed and can have up to 6 as a family child care in-home, or 12 as a group in-home, but then you need an assistant.

I prefer 5, but have 6 for the money. If I could find a reliable assistant I fully trusted and knew wouldn't leave, I would open up a group child care and focus on teaching preschool and the older ones while leaving the infants to an assistant

[Miss A]

I am unlicensed in Iowa, and I can have a max of 5 kids, my own being included in the count. As of right now I have 3 full time, with mine being due next month and a new sibling due to one of my full timers in December. As of right now I have infant through young toddler enrollment, and I am loving it. I was a lead infant teacher in a center for 2 years and know that this is my niche. If my area had a call for it, I would be strictly infant and toddler care, up to 3 years max. I am hoping my first crop works out that way, as many of my families will qualify for preschool at 3, and I am hoping it works out that my families will have new babies to stay with me, as all of mine are the first babies of the family.

[Luke25]

I am a small and liscense exempt. You can have 4 not including your own children in TN.
I have 4 that I care for plus my own 2 year old. I enjoy the small family feel and wouldn't want anymore than that.

[Controlled Chaos]

I am licensed for 8, which doesn't include my own kids 4yo+, so I have 10 kids daily.

[KiwiKids]

I operate small. 4 kids with a 5th spot that can be a sibling spot if a current family has a baby before an older child moves on to elementary school. My own four children are still young so I have no plans to expand right now. When my youngest is in school full time I will probably look to run a group of 6-8.

[Baby Beluga]

I am small and am licensed exempt. Here you can have 4 children before needing to be licensed. 5+ children and you are required to be licensed. Your own children do not count in your ratio. I currently have 4 DCK's and my own DD. In a couple of weeks I will have 2 DCK's and my own DD.

In some ways I like being small. It allows for a more personal relationship with families and their children. In other ways, I think it would be easier to be larger. Sometimes I feel like with a small group the children tend to bicker more because playmate choices are limited.

[Blackcat31]

Sometimes I feel like with a small group the children tend to bicker more because playmate choices are limited.

I find this to be very accruate!

On my slower days, they fight and argue pretty frequently.

On my busiest days, the kids hardly have a squabble at all.

So weird but true in my opinion.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I'm licensed and have 12 each day.

Less than 8 and it's reaaaaaally quiet and slightly boring.

[Crazy8]

In NJ the max is 5 kids for a home daycare so no option to be a larger daycare without being a center. I found 5 is just enough for me anyway!

[Controlled Chaos]

I am licensed for 8, which doesn't include my own kids 4yo+, so I have 10 kids daily.

Oh and I didn't say why -
The next biggest home daycare license is for 16 and I would need a full time assistant. I did the math and I wouldn't make nearly enough more to justify the hassle, extra wear and tear and worry of an employee. I like my group of 9 (ms #10 goes back to school next week). Less than 7 does feel a little slow. I think 8-10 is a great number. They pair off well, switch up friends and I have enough centers I can separate them pretty well when needed.