Who's Easier to Mind: under 5s or over 8s?

[Shar]

My 2 B&E schoolies are lovely but argue and wind eachother up all the time at the moment. I feel like a referee!! I am thinking of giving notice to one of them soon, can't take the stress for a few £ per week.

Give me under 5's any day. Much easier and less demanding.

[Millenium]

I have only ever minded babies and toddlers up to 4. I love to see them starting to feed themselves, learning to crawl and walk etc.

[mushpea]

I think it depends on the child,, I have had in the past a very demanding and hard work 4yrold yet now i have a 6yrold who is very easy going, well, when he's not winding up my son that is!
My son finds the over 5's the hardest to put up with especialy the 6yrold, sometimes they are fine and play lovley but then i can have some really hard work days when they clash and dont get on.
oh and they dont all sleep under 5yrs old,,, I have 2 2yrolds and a 3yrold that dont nap and a 18month old that does most days but they do all play lovley together.

[daisyboo1980]

under 5's for me , when i come back off maternity leave ive decided not to take on after schoolers if i can but if not i wont be having any over 6 or 7 , had such problems with my last lots of after schoolers .

[mumx3]

Under 5's without a doubt!

[The Juggler]

Under 5's without a doubt!

my dd (8)had me in (secret) tears this morning, the way she talks to me and then when I say 'it stops now' she turns her back on me when I try to discuss her behaviour. I then told her she had x to look and listen to me or she wouldn't go without xxx' she didn't and I told her that was it. The rest of the way to school she screamed I hate you at me. Joyful, especially nice (and hard to ignore) in front of the little ones but I kept my tears to myself.

This is a regular occurance. Give me 6 toddlers any day

[clio0602]

I love 1 to 3 yr olds before they get cheeky!!! And older ones while they are at school lol. Have an extremely cheeky 6yo at mo who I am dreading picking up as he won't walk with me from school and LO's follow

[amanda1309]

Under 5's for me. I find the older ones fight and are always wanting something or winding the little ones up

[Bex1]

All mine are under 5 so I can only base my comments on this age! I do find they need so much attention as they have yet to grasp playing by themselves (especially the 2 yr olds) and so they are always looking to me to start a game, start a role play etc. Thankfully I have a DD who is a few weeks off turning 3 and she is fab at role play so she can start a role play situation and the others will go with her.

However its also nice because they all go for a nap at the same time so I have some peace for an hour or so

I find it harded to plan themes though with these little people because they are only with me one day a week and like familiarity and changing anything seems to upset their routine!

[happy days]

under 5 or over 8 def, 6 and 7 yr olds tend to squabble or be into themselves too much!

[Tribe_mummy]

Hard choice from past experience! Over 8s like their independance and want to do what they want to do, some even feel like they don't need looking after!!

Under 5's take a lot more attention and are easier to encourage to do things, however I do find them the most enjoyable x