23.3: Low Ratios

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Todd LaMarr

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Ratios

The number of caregivers assigned to a group of children refers to the adult-to-child ratio. A low ratio means not exceeding the recommended number of adults assigned to a group of infants and toddlers. For infants from birth through twelve months of age, AAP recommends a ratio of 1:3一one caregiver assigned to every three infants in a class (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2019). The AAP recommends a ratio of 1:4 for toddlers between the ages of 13 to 35 months一one caregiver assigned to every four toddlers in a class. These ratio guidelines from the AAP are supported by PITC’s recommendations which suggests either a 1:3 or a 1:4 ratio, depending on the age of the children一with a lower ratio for younger children (Program for Infant and Toddler Care, 2022).

Many infant and toddler programs do not meet the recommendations for adult-to-child ratios. Figure# shows the percentage of infant and toddler programs that met ratio guidelines (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2006). Programs were most likely to meet ratio recommendations with three year old children (56%) and least likely to meet recommendations with children ages 1½ through 2 years of age at 20% and 26% respectively. When children were six months of age, 36% of programs met the guidelines.

Percentage of programs meeting recommended guidelines for adult-to-child ratio. 6 months = 36%, 1.5 Years = 20%, 2 Years = 26%, 3 Years = 56% — Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Percentage of programs meeting recommended guidelines for adult-to-child ratio. (^{^[1]})

^{^[1]} Image by Todd LaMarr is licensed under CC by 4.0