CHILD-TO-STAFF RATIOS
Resources for Child Care Givers
Provided by All Family Resources

The child-to-staff ratio (the number of children for which each child care provider is responsible) affects the quality of care a child care provider can give to each child. Small group sizes and low child-to-staff ratios are recommended by the American Public Health Association (APHA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Having a smaller number of infants/toddlers/children for each adult to take care of has been associated with:

• Children imitating earlier, and more often than usual, the speech and gestures of others.
• Providers having more time to give the best care to children.
• Children talking and playing more often.
• Children being in distress less often.
• Children being less exposed to danger.

Grouping children in smaller numbers has been associated with:

• Providers being able to give better attention to the children.
• Children having more positive developmental outcomes.
• Children being more cooperative and more responsive to adults and other children.
• Children being more likely to speak without being urged.
• Children being less likely to wander aimlessly or be uninvolved in activities.
• Children scoring higher on standardized tests.

The chart below gives American Public Health Association/American Academy of Pediatrics (APHA/AAP) recommendations by age for group size and child-to-staff ratios. Your state’s regulations may be different.