Having two children of two different ages means that you will always have kids that are on two different learning levels. For this reason, your children will have different sets of friends and different preferred activities, even if they are good friends at home. If you work longer than school hours, you may need to involve your children in a child care program. Though it can be easier on gas mileage to enroll your children in the same child care programs, it can be better for the children to attend different programs. Here are three reasons to consider enrolling your children in different child care programs. 

Your children may have different learning needs

There are learning programs for after school that will focus on a number of different needs and tasks. If one of your children has a high IQ or is above their grade level, they may need to participate in a fast-paced learning program that will set them up to skip a grade. Other children may have issues with learning and need some one-on-one help from a good child care tutoring program aimed at further learning. Different learning needs must be cultivated in your children, which means that they may need to go to different child care programs. 

Your children learn self sufficiently

When your children attend the same child care program, the eldest may feel the need to watch out for the youngest. If your children tend to bicker at home, they may do this at the child care program after school, as well. In order to allow each child to play and learn independently, your children should attend different programs. This will mean that your older child can focus on their own needs and that your younger child can act independently and learn to be in charge of themselves. 

Children expand their social circles

If your children do not have many friends in their neighborhood, expanding their social circles would be a good idea. If your children have different hobbies, they may need to be enrolled in different after-school programs so that they can do what they like. Whether they prefer sports, science projects, acting, or something else, there are programs for school-age children that have some of these activities. Being able to participate in their hobbies during the time that they wait to go home after school will allow them to enjoy their after-school time.

Contact a child care center like Kaye Kare Child Care Center for additional advice.