Moving up in daycare

pooksmom · April 2014

My daughter will be 3 in 1 month. I was told she would move up to the next class when she turned 3. I was fine with that until two of her closest friends moved up the other day. Now, I realize she is surrounded by younger children. (9 others moved out of her class about 5 months ago). I asked her teacher why my daughter didn't move and she said it was a numbers thing. I am debating whether I should make a big deal out if it or let it go. It's a little over two full months that she will be with the younger children. Thoughts? Experiences?

shakinros · April 2014

I would let it go. Sometimes she'll be the youngest in her room, sometimes the oldest. It might be nice for her to have a couple months of being the oldest before she moves on. She can show the other kids how to do things.

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ASmallWonder · April 2014

There's never a guarantee that they'll move up the minute they turn the eligible age and the other kids moved up because they were either slightly older or slightly more ready. They can't move a kid they don't have space for. At our daycare, kids that are eligible to move in the late spring or summer are often not moved until late summer or fall because that's when the pre-k kids leave to start school so there's a big shuffle at that time.

litzo27 · April 2014

First of all, she is not even 3. She is probably now moving to a room with a different ratio where you are not allowed to have kids under 3. Second, numbers and ratios are a real constraint. In our daycare a lot of spring/summer moves are often delayed till August when 5 year olds go to K, opening space for preschoolers to move to pre K, and toddlers to preschool. Lastly, it's good for a child to experience being an oldest as well as the youngest. Different dynamics. She is not going to fall behind on the "academic curve" if she sings itsy bitsy spider a couple more times

DTNZ4Ever · April 2014

DS birthday is in March. He moves up anywhere from January until June. It all depends on the ratios and when they can move the others up.

alisonc87 · April 2014

I understand your frustration! I work in a child care center (infant/toddler room) and if it is any consolation it is often frustrating for us too when we know the child is ready, but the last "big kid" in a room full of younger toddlers and infants. Where I work the ratio goes from 1:10 for all 3+ to being 1:7 if we even have one child who is even 1 day younger than 3. I would encourage you to talk to your provider about what they will be doing to keep your little one engaged and continuing to progress developmentally in a classroom full of younger children. (more challenging activities, special "helper" activities, etc.)

rboisvert · April 2014

It really is a numbers thing, when we have an under 3 we go from 1:7 to 1:5 and it's a much bigger pain that you'd think. She'll move soon if there's room. My DD is getting to move right on her birthday but her two best buddies can't even though they are just days apart due to space. For one it's NBD for the other (the youngest of the three) it's a huge deal because she just needs to be challenged. We're doing a lot of scrambling to try and move her but it's a mess some times where there's a lot of kids that age out of toddlers right before the 5's go to kindergarten.

klv · April 2014

within a week of moving to the 3 year old room, my LO came home saying the F word. being with the little kids can have its advantages.

jf198400 · April 2014

Ditto what PPs said, ratios are different for 3yo's. In PA, 2 yo ratio is 1:6, 3 yo ratio is 1:10. So they can't just move up a kid who is too young.

I understand your frustration. My DD has an August bday and most of her friends will be moving up in June for the "summer camp". Even though she will eventually be in the same school year as these kids, DD does not get to move up with them. Director explained to me that their licensing requires kids to be 4yo to go swimming lessons and field trips. It sucks, but there's nothing that can be done about it.

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