Play Space For Mixed Aged Group

[LeslieG]

How do you do it? I never wanted to take little ones in the first place, but that's all I was ever getting calls for.

Anyway, I'm tired of the little ones dumping multiple activities within 20 seconds and then walking away to destroy something else... like the train table or the book shelf!! I'm also tired of them interrupting the preschoolers play. So I feel like I need to do something different here.

I don't have a super big space so I feel limited, but I'm just trying to think if ideas to cut down on chaos.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

[Blackcat31]

How do you do it? I never wanted to take little ones in the first place, but that's all I was ever getting calls for.

Anyway, I'm tired of the little ones dumping multiple activities within 20 seconds and then walking away to destroy something else... like the train table or the book shelf!! I'm also tired of them interrupting the preschoolers play. So I feel like I need to do something different here.

I don't have a super big space so I feel limited, but I'm just trying to think if ideas to cut down on chaos.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

What kind of and size space do you currently have?

One large open room, multiple small rooms?

Describe the area you currently use and the age group/size you have and I bet suggestions and ideas will follow!

[Cat Herder]

Good fences make great neighbors.

https://www.amazon.com/Regalo-192-Inch-Super-Wide-White/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1491917583&sr=1-1&keywords=extra+long+baby+gate

[LeslieG]

It's a front living room with a small carpeted dining room attached. The total square footage of both rooms is about 355. The dining room is partly used for lunch, but I'm not opposed to taking the tables out and moving them in my kitchen.. just to free up more carpeted space.

The kids I have now are:
2 year old boy
20 month old b/g twins
19 month old boy
13 month old boy

I have more infants lined up to start once kids turn 2. I also have a 2 year old and 3 year old starting in the fall.

[Jupadia]

Sorry phone wrangler posted by mistake in wrong place.

[childcaremom]

Good fences make great neighbors.

https://www.amazon.com/Regalo-192-In...long+baby+gate

I arrange the furniture strategically when I have mixed ages. This allows the big kids in one area and the littles in another. I'm also lucky enough that I can do that outside, as well.

I stripped down my whole playroom to basics. There isn't much to dump anymore and the play is more involved, too.

[Ariana]

I find the babies occupy themselves pretty well while the older ones play. The only time I run into issues is when I take out art or playdoh etc. I have a tall regular sized table and chairs for the older kids and it works perfectly. I also wait for baby naps before bringing out any small toys etc. they play for an hour and then it goes back.

At my old house I had an area sectioned off just for the older kids that the younger ones couldn't get into. That also worked well.

Current ages are:
14 months, 11 months, 13 months, 2 yrs, two 3 yr olds and a 4 yr old.

[AmyKidsCo]

With that age group I'd put away most of the "dumping" toys until they're older.

Do you have a minimum number of toys you need to provide?
In WI licensing only requires a choice of 3 different "things" (toys, equipment, supplies books, art materials, etc) per child when all children are using "things." So for your group of 5 you'd only need 15 different "things" out.

I also have older children play with puzzles, MagnaTiles, etc, at the dining room table because the little ones can't reach up to dump or wreck what the older ones are doing.

[Pestle]

After surviving three toddlers with behavioral issues, I'm changing my tune. I didn't want infants, but I'm now of the opinion that I should take them as infants and grow my own toddlers.

The only real trouble I have is when the babies first start walking. Then, I have to strip the play and art areas down to hardly any "things", because the ones who are recently mobile are little destructo machines. The big kids have to wait for baby nap time for things like Play-Doh because the new walkers are so grabby.

[Laurie]

Good fences make great neighbors.

https://www.amazon.com/Regalo-192-In...long+baby+gate

This is my solution to the problem also!!!
And I absolutely love this gate. Wish I had found it back when I started. It's made my days so much better

[Laurie]

I start them as infants and grow my own toddlers! I started doing this about 6yrs ago and what a difference it's made. I have the best behaved children

[daycare]

I only take 18months and up. and the 18 months old have to pass a little test.

Like-
can they self feed in some way, with or without spoon/fork
stop when someone says
follow 2 step instructions like sit down with your book.
take only one nap
drink from a cup or cup with straw
sit a a table and chair, we don't have high-chairs
there's more, I can't think of others right now... long day.

I have the most well behaved bunch of kids. My oldest child here has been here since 18months and is now 5. I use my 5 year olds to help model and set the examples for the younger children. they love to be my helpers every day.

I only take two under two at a time and will only take them full time. I have never found an under 3 in my program that actually worked out on a PT basis.

Maybe have a age cut off? that way you don't have such a huge gap.

[Mom2Two]

Good fences make great neighbors.

https://www.amazon.com/Regalo-192-In...long+baby+gate

Cat herder: Do you use something like this? If so, which group do you spend more time with? I don't have much in the way of mixed ages right now, but if I did, I'm not sure how I'd handle it.

[Josiegirl]

"Grow my own toddlers" ::
I love that.
I'm glad you asked this question because it can be a problem at times with ages ranging so much. But I have tried separating age groups before by a physical barrier and all they each want to do is get to 'the other side'.
I use the tiring repetitive redirection.

[Blackcat31]

After surviving three toddlers with behavioral issues, I'm changing my tune. I didn't want infants, but I'm now of the opinion that I should take them as infants and grow my own toddlers.

This is so true!

Some of the most difficult kids I've had in care were those that started after age 1-1.5 yrs old. The easiest kids I've had over the years are those I've gotten in the first year of life. Helps that they basically learn within your environment so my rules are all they've known.

I find that separating the kids not so much by age but by ability makes a huge difference. Once my kiddos start walking (full on walking) they are no longer allowed in the non-mobile areas. Once they master toilet use and can communicate at least 50% of their needs/wants they get to move to an older room.

I currently have a 2.5 yr old in the "oldest" room and I have an almost 3 yr old that still spend a majority of their day in the toddler area (cruisers/climbers) so it's rarely by age but more by development.

IME, it's the difference in developmental stages that causes the most discord. Grouping kids that way helps eliminate some of those issues.