Childcare and age integration

Age integration in childcare is the process of including children of various ages in the daily activities of the communities. Contrast this with age segregation, which involves separating children into definite age groups for instructions, activities, learning and playing. Age integration in childcare gives each child an equal responsibility where they become both collaborators and contributors. Age integration is popular because it provides the perfect environment for learning since the kids are able to observe and teach their peers.
 
Four benefits of age integration in childcare:

• The young children benefit from consistent education and care in the same place and time. They are able to move consistently through their early childhood without interruption.
• The parent who will have the advantage of accessing more integrated services, hence, a reduction in time needed to look for appropriate childcare facilities every time their child is promoted as they get older.
• Third, there is a reduced cost as a result of removing divisions. The divisions result in extra cost because each age group has its own expenses when it comes to management, e.g extra staff, teaching materials and space.
• The forth benefit has to do with reducing child exclusion in young children. This promotes cohesion and other social benefits.

 
From the young child's point of view, how well they are integrated in their early days, how many peers or groups they interact with, how many adults they see and how many transitions they make have a direct effect when it comes to their well-being and development. Age integration in childcare leads to a healthy mix of children from different ages working harmoniously together, and learning great lessons from one another.
 
However, the downside to age integration is that cases of bullying are rampant. Moreover the older kids may teach younger kids inappropriate behaviors because the young ones are usually looking up to the older ones.

Do your due diligence to decide what is best for your children.  If you have questions, please contact TSL Adventures.