You have had the same age group for a few years now and your director has approached you. There's an educator leaving and you have the opportunity to change groups. You're comfortable with your present age group but are considering a possible change. This move will need some thinking and analyzing, especially if you hadn't anticipated such a move.
The first recommendation would be to, read up on the age group offered to you. If you've been with the two year-olds and are now offered the four year-old group (or vise-versa) your every day-to-day routine will be different. You won't plan the same activities, your objectives and your approach will be based on the age group which will not be the same.
The NAEYC http://www.naeyc.org has an excellent book called Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs, revised edition Ed(s): Sue Bredekamp, Carol Copple, available from the NAEYC site. This book will give you a feeling of how children are at that age and what is expected from the caregiver working with that age group. Go through other of your books and see what type of activities you can and can't do with the new age group. If you're into planning these types of activities maybe a change would be good for you.
Visit the present educator and observe her and the group. What routines are implemented? What focus should you have, for example the two year-old group will demand lots of repetition and hygienic care. Toilet training, hand washing, will need much more supervision in this group than the four year-old group. They're a little more independent yet have a lot of questions to ask. Just like the infant group has more demands than the two year old group. Ask the educator about her daily routine. Take notes about her point-of-view on the advantage and disadvantages of that age group. There's no perfect age group. They all have their cute side but they are all demanding yet their needs are different.
Discuss with your director if there's a possibility to try this group for a few hours or days. It would help you see how well you'd adjust to them and them to you.
There are a few questions you'll need to ask yourself.
What other changes would result in your changing age groups?
Would your hours change?
Would your weekly schedule change?
Would there be a monetary difference?
Would you have to seek addition workshops or courses to help you develop your group and your capacities?
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