As parents and caregivers, we all know the importance of spending quality time with our children. When a child receives direct attention, they have a better chance of gaining enhanced listening, learning skills and feeling appreciated and loved.
When it comes to a child care setting, children also benefit from having direct interaction with a teacher or a staff member. Although it's impossible to provide one-on-one attention to every child, the ratio of teacher-to-student must remain low.
Understanding Ratios
What exactly does a low child-staff ratio mean? First, a single care provider can supervise the maximum number of children. The ratio number is based on the child's age and can be seen in the chart below.
Ratios
| Age | Adult to Child Ratio | Group Size |
|---|---|---|
| 1-12 months | 1:4 | 8 |
| 12-24 months | 1:5 | 10 |
| 2-3 years | 1:7 | 14 |
| 3-4 years | 1:11 | 22 |
| 4-5 years | 1:13 | 26 |
| 5-6 years | 1:15 | 30 |
| 6-9 years | 1:18 | 36 |
| 9-13 years | 1:20 | 40 |
Impact of Low Child-Staff Ratios
Many research studies show that low child-staff ratios and group sizes positively impact the overall quality of early and school-age care and education programs, as well as the experiences that children have in those programs. Therefore, ABC Quality and national organizations such as Head Start, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recommend this position.
- Benefits for Children: Experts say that the quality interactions found in a low group ratio setting also help contribute to positive impacts on children, including enhanced learning, language, and academic development. Having a provider supervise only a small number of children also helps ensure the safety and welfare of a child throughout the day, with children being less likely to get injured or sick. From a psychological standpoint, having more direct attention from a provider also helps children feel safe and secure and reduces feelings of being overwhelmed.
- Benefits for Providers: Providers also benefit from low group ratios because it allows them to focus on the needs of a small group of children much more efficiently than a large group. And like the children, the small group size also helps prevent a provider from feeling overwhelmed.
Implications for Selecting a Child Care Provider
So, if you are selecting a child care provider for your child, ask a potential provider about their child-staff ratio. It can mean a world of difference for your child. For more information on child-staff ratios and how they relate to the ABC Quality rating system for child care providers throughout South Carolina, visit https://www.scchildcare.org/programs/abc-quality-rating-improvement-system/.