Aging Out

[GirlMomma]

I have posted about one of my DCP being weird when I mentioned their DCK4.5 aging out.

I have reason to believe that DCD acted weird about it because DCP have no intention of putting DCK in Kindergarten this coming school year. DCK will turn 5 in August before the September 1 age cut off. School starts in the beginning of August. I am expecting them to hold DCK back until next year. However, the child has already “aged” out of my program and I don’t want to continue care.

What would be an appropriate way to let them know that after August, I will no longer offer care to their family? When would be a good time to mention this? May/June?

[Alwaysgreener]

I think catherder has a graduation letter that she sends out. I think she sent it out in July but I could be wrong. I'm debating myself in between graduating the child out or raising rates.
Honestly it's a sibling set and he'll be going into fourth grade and she'll be going to k. I go back and forth on giving the parents choice or just saying that I'm making changes to the program, and ending School age Care.

[GirlMomma]

I knew someone had one but I couldn’t remember who.

[Blackcat31]

I would definitely mention it around the beginning of summer. Letting them know this will be his last summer with you.
Can I ask why you won't keep him beyond this year if he isn't enrolled in school? I don't keep school aged kids either but I don't consider them school aged until they actually enter Kindergarten. I've had several kids that turned 5 in the summer before school start and I've kept them as they aren't technically school aged.

Is this one a challenge so it's a good thing for your sanity to have him age out? lol!

[Alwaysgreener]

I don't know about girlmomma, but I'm tired of the oldest sibling.

[GirlMomma]

Alwaysgreener last June was the first summer I accepted SA kids… and last July, I announced I’d no longer accept SA for school breaks! 😂😅 SA disrupt the day so much. My niche is truly 15 months - K. 😂

Blackcat31 okay, I’ll wait a while. Schools in my area are doing Pre-K and Kindergarten round up this month, so I want to get ahead of the “what will I do for childcare?” conversations. I know they’d allow enrollment for K after this month, but I don’t know if Pre-K is done on a first come, first serve basis or not.

Why do I want to stop care? Well, this DCK is the oldest kiddo I have and DCK is only here every other week. When DCK is at the other parent’s house, it’s essentially a free for all. The child is exposed to more than any other child I have in my group. Keep in mind, half of my kids are raised by the parents of Pleasantville that still give pacifiers to a 3.75 YO and get up in the middle of the night with a 20 month old.

While DCK is pretty well behaved, he has brought a lot of that “exposure” into the daycare over the last year. I’ve had to redirect DCK and tell him what’s appropriate for DC and what’s not. Mentally, the child outgrew my group over six months ago. I don’t think my group is appropriate for him for another 18 months.

[Blackcat31]

👍🏻 Totally makes sense! If parents try to bombard you with child care woes, just repeat your apologies but you just don’t take school aged kids and refer them to your local resource and referral. If you don’t want child for summer let them know now that he’s aged out on last day of this school year.

[GirlMomma]

Blackcat31 I think it’ll be okay thru to summer. But I noticed this change in him when he turned 4 last August. That’s why I don’t want to keep him if they decide to hold him back a year - he’ll practically he six when he leaves my program.

[GirlMomma]

Alwaysgreener I would protect your sanity! If you don’t want to deal with the SA kids over the summer, I’d say something now. Maybe go above and beyond to refer parents to programs in your area. I refer mine to summer camps offered by the schools or the Boys and Girls Club. Most programs cost a one time fee or charge a small fee weekly and require kids to bring a sack lunch. The SA kids are with their friends all day and are happier!

When I announced last year that I wouldn’t take SA next summer, I told my parents, “The Boys and Girls club actually offers later hours than I do and they’re more affordable than me!”

I am looking forward to peaceful summer days outside without hearing “Pssst, hey so and so, go ask Miss GirlMomma for a snack” or the whiney “It’s too hot out here, I wanna go in!”

[Alwaysgreener]

Alwaysgreener I would protect your sanity! If you don’t want to deal with the SA kids over the summer, I’d say something now. Maybe go above and beyond to refer parents to programs in your area. I refer mine to summer camps offered by the schools or the Boys and Girls Club. Most programs cost a one time fee or charge a small fee weekly and require kids to bring a sack lunch. The SA kids are with their friends all day and are happier!

When I announced last year that I wouldn’t take SA next summer, I told my parents, “The Boys and Girls club actually offers later hours than I do and they’re more affordable than me!”

I am looking forward to peaceful summer days outside without hearing “Pssst, hey so and so, go ask Miss GirlMomma for a snack” or the whiney “It’s too hot out here, I wanna go in!”

I have been trying to do a pro and con list. My dd will be upset when they leave, SA is her buddy and so is dcg. SA "forgets" rules all the time and treats DCG poorly. He also has been a peeping tom in the past when it comes to my dd, which I have put a curb on by not allowing him to leave the table in the morning. He acts like a preschooler and fights over who goes first. He also hits my dd on the bus, the driver does not see it, as he uses his feet. I talked to the driver last year but have not gotten a chance to this year. I know that I can handle another year of SA. So they will have to leave by August at the latest, before my vacation just after his 9 birthday. (my state profile says up to 8 years)

DCG cries to get her way, she even admits to it. Right now she is a good balance between the older and younger kids. She is smart and she likes to help with things like setting the table. But she has outgrown my care, she just turned five and fights naps, this summer is going to be impossible to have her nap while SA is not. If I let her not nap, to get ready for school, they will be even noisier and I can not send them outside. Plus the other kids are going to fight naps as they see dcg as one of them. So part of me wants to end care by July because this will be an issue.

Both kids tell me how much they dislike coming to my home. DCG says she still likes me, even though she would rather be with GMA or DCD. They both will bring me drawings and treats. (I am not sure how SA really feels about me, he does not like to be touched or hugged, even by his sister)

School gets done June 4th and they are pt kids but long days. They are with Grandma on the other days or with DCM. Gma likes to have her freedom but she is the one that picks up on half days or if the kids need to go home for whatever reason.

[GirlMomma]

I don’t think you’d regret it if you let them go. It sounds like if you keep them, it’d be a headache all summer. Since they’re with Gma when they’re not with you, she could pick up the slack until they found alternate care/a summer program to enroll the kids into.

[fivestarday]

GirlMomma I'm thinking of making my new business slogan: Once they're 4, don't bring 'em to my door!

I really enjoy age 15 months to 3 years old. 2s on their way to 3 are my favorite age. My sweet son is 4 and he is so rambunctious. ASAP, I'm sending that boy to SCHOOL! LOL

[GirlMomma]

That’s my favorite age too! 2 going on 3 is perfect