Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/the-benefits-of-the-mix/5012446/
Some years ago I arrived at a child care center just in time to observe a caregiver struggling bravely to get eleven two year olds upstairs to the second floor activity room! While her co-caregiver was helping a few others in the bathroom, she was challenged by one girl stubbornly fixed to the bottom step pleading to be carried. Another moaned pitifully with thumb in the mouth as he kept dropping the remains of what surely was once a lovely blanket. Another slowly made her way climbing on all fours, as others attempted to hold hands with any willing co-climber.But imagine how much more manageable this might have been if among the eleven were three or four two year olds, a few three year olds, and the rest fours. The caregiver would be ready to help the youngest and encourage the oldest ones to give helping hands to the middle ones. The fact is that when two year olds are in a group together they are of little value to each other. Even though it's not natural for young children to spend large proportions of time in same-age litters, we seem to insist that they be cared for and educated in ...