Would you send your child to a gan/playgroup like this?

So here's the story: We just found out that the gan we were going to send my daughter to in September is not opening in the end. I had been contemplating making a gan for 1.5-2 yr olds, and had more or less warmed up to the idea. But now that my daughter does not have a gan to go to (that's close enough to us), I began thinking of doing her age instead (2.5 - 3).

However, we live in a two bedroom typical Israeli apartment. Our living room area is a decent size and pretty spacious. We also have a huge mirpeset with lots of outdoor toys. I made a kaytana/playgroup Chanukah time and I had about 12 kids. It was a but crowded, but totally doable. I had kids ranging from 2.5 - 5. I just keep thinking that kids that age probably need a lot more space to run around and just...be. But maybe not? A few friends have told me that they have sent their kids to a gan in a much smaller place than mine and their kids were perfectly happy.

Another concern of mine is that because I would be running the gan in our living room area, it is not a designated place for gan. Meaning, there won't be any posters, pictures, charts (unless there is a way I can remove them and put them back up easily enough for Shabbos).

So I guess my question is really two fold:

1) Would you send your child to a gan like this?

2) Do you have any suggestions to make this more doable?

Thank you in advance for your input!
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Senior Member Joined: Apr 28 2010 Posts: 243

To me it would be very important that my 2.5-3.5 year old be in a stimulating environment so I would choose a setting that had the posters and artwork over one that didn't. Will you be just by yourself with that number of children? I ask because perhaps the space issue wont be so much if you're able to take them out for a walk or to the park each day-

The most important thing will be that you can offer the kids a loving environment, as I'm sure you can- the rest are just details you can iron out based on what your clients want.

Good luck!

Posted: Tue, Jun 21 2011, 2:29 pm Post subject:

I have seen fantastic gans with setups like you described, and awful ones that were decorated all bright and cheery with lots of room... I really think it depends on ganenet more than anything else.

Posted: Tue, Jun 21 2011, 2:34 pm Post subject:

Platinum Member Joined: Feb 20 2009 Posts: 7611

I'm with shabbat. The legalities are important. Any chance that you could get licensed?
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Gold Member Joined: Jan 11 2011 Posts: 1164

you could always hang up the posters with blue-tak & then remove them for SHabbos. The atmosphere is the main thing needed in a gan warm, kind & patient gannenet.

When my 3rd child was 2, five families did playgroup instead of gan. Every day the kids were at a different member's apartment. They loved it, and remember it. It was fine till towards the end of the year, when the kids were closer to age 3 and needed more space and stimulation.

We had a rocking horse in the salon that the kids adored.
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To be honest, I would be reluctant not because of posters etc but mainly because of child to ganenet ratio. It's not easy keeping an eye on an active toddler, how much more so if you're the only one keeping an eye on 12 of them? Probably doable if you're thinking of something like 5, maybe max 7 children. More than posters and pictures on the wall, my other concern would be how to stimulate/educate wide range of ages? What's appropriate for 2.5yr old is not the same as what 4yr old needs. Do you have an option of dividing them into smaller groups by age, and have a few other adults supervise?

What happens when it rains? You won't be able to keep the children in mirpeset so do you have to crowd them all in the living room? Will you get cleaning help during the week, or will you have to tidy up/clean the area used for gan every day after the children go home?

Gold Member Joined: Jun 01 2009 Posts: 2307

I would, but only if you restrict your intake to a smaller amount of kids. Not because I'm worried that you won't manage but because of your space restraints.

Platinum Member Joined: Dec 27 2007 Posts: 7240

I had a daycare in my apartment when my kids were little. But we moved ALL of our family furniture out of the three main daycare rooms and set it up as a huge daycare, with cribs and toy shelves and play mats, etc.

Posted: Tue, Jun 21 2011, 8:57 pm Post subject:

I whoud send to such a kiddie group if I see the environment and ppl but with smaller number of kids unless there is a helper
I have the same issue however I consider getting max 3 kids as I have my own toddler and baby so with a max of 5 in my care in my small house im thinking of doing my other problem however came up when I thought what do I do a day I wake up sick! I cant have the kids come so will it be a sudden day off and the moms are stuck?!
or if I need to be oot or s/t
of coarsse clea ning help becomes a must in such a case if not I wonder if I would send or get kids Wink

good luck!
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Executive Member Joined: Dec 29 2009 Posts: 379

Not really. I have sent to babysitters that were in small apartments, but not such big kids. I think 2.5 is the oldest I'd send to a place that had very little room to move and no real education. Also, I wouldn't do 1:12 ratio. I think 1:5 would be my max for young kids.

Posted: Wed, Jun 22 2011, 1:14 am Post subject:

Here in EY it is very done. My good friend runs a gan for 6 kids in a setup like you describe. She has a few posters up on the closet, and a board right in the entryway where you come in. She also takes the kids to the park every day.

As far as the legalities, I think there are 2 different things. YOu are allowed to run a gan / playgroup / mishpachton for a few kids (not sure how many, I think 8) without being approved as a "gannenet," but you are not allowed to take money from parents without reporting your income (even if you only have one kid). An irate neighbor could call on the chance you are running an illegal gan, and the tax authorities will be knocking on your door.

Also I dont' know about where you are, but here pretty much everyone is already signed up for next year, so I wouldn't expect to be full in Sept., maybe by next year, but I think you would have to do a year and not much income.
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Posted: Wed, Jun 22 2011, 1:16 am Post subject:

Shop, I don't know if you can modify your poll, but I think there is a clear divide here by what is expected in EY, and what is expected in other places.

I really wouldn't care about posters or artwork, but the child to ganenet ration would be a killer for me.
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Legalities: In my city, I know people in my city who keep the number of kids under 10, and then it's not a problem. More than that, you are likely to get shut down.