12. Appendices

12.10. Appendix J: Recommended Staff: Child Ratio and Group Size: Child Care Center

Staff: child ratio and group size requirements vary by state and type of program. Check your state’s or territory’s staff: child ratio and group size requirements for licensed childcare programs by selecting your state or territory and reviewing the “Understanding and Finding Child Care Resources” page.

The chart below provides some general recommendations from early childhood experts for safe staff: child ratios and group sizes.

Ages Staff: Child Ratio Group Size
Infants: Younger than 12 months old 1 adult should care for no more than 3 infants No more than 6 infants in a group or class
Toddlers: 13–35 months old 1 adult should care for no more than 4 toddlers No more than 8 toddlers in a group or class
Preschoolers: 3 years old 1 adult should care for no more than 7 preschoolers No more than 14 preschoolers in a group or class
Preschoolers: 4 years old 1 adult should care for no more than 8 preschoolers No more than 16 preschoolers in a group or class
Preschoolers: 5 years old 1 adult should care for no more than 8 preschoolers No more than 16 preschoolers in a group or class
School-age children: 6–8 years old 1 adult should care for no more than 10 school-age children No more than 20 school-age children in a group or class
School-age children: 9–12 years old 1 adult should care for no more than 12 school-age children No more than 25 school-age children in a group or class

ChildCare.gov provides recommendations for best practices and how to ensure health and safety in child care spaces - https://childcare.gov/consumer-education/regulated-child-care

American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, & National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. (2019).

A downloadable version of this appendix is available here.