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Infant & Toddler Group Care
Small Groups
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Learning Objectives:Participants will be able to:
• Describe PITC’s definition of small groups, including the recommended group size for each age of infancy, and the amount of space for each age group.
• Discuss the positive impacts on children and adults when infants are cared for in large groups.
• Identify ways in which small group size can be achieved and intimacy can be increased.
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Revisiting the PITC Philosophy:
• Research indicates that infants need responsive care provided in close, caring relationships for optimal development in all learning domains.
• The PITC six essential policies support the development of warm, nurturing relationships between infants and a limited number of caregivers in an intimate setting.
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Reflection
How do you feel after you have spent several hours in a very large group or crowd? For example, how do you feel after attending a festival, concert, sports event at a very large venue for several hours?
Now reflect on how an infant or toddler might feel when he/she spends many hours a day in a large group in child care.
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PITC Essential Policies and Practices
Small Group Sizes
Primary Care
Continuity of Care
Individualized/Personalized Care
Inclusion of Infants with Disabilities and Other Special Needs
Cultural Responsiveness
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“Move About” Activity
What are the benefits to having small groups?
• For the child?
• For the family?
• For the teachers?
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Why is caring for infants in small groups so important?
• Small groups support development of trusting relationships between infants, family members and teachers.
• Small groups protect infants from over-stimulation, particularly high and constant noise. The younger the infant, the smaller the group needs to be.
• Small group size reduces stress and fatigue for infants and care teachers.
• Small groups decrease the size of the germ pool — fewer illnesses among staff, infants/toddlers and family members.
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PITC’s Definition of Small Groups
Ideally, a small group of infants/toddlers with their primary and secondary care teachers have fully self-contained indoor and outdoor spaces where the group does not come into contact with other children or adults during the time they are in care each day.
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PITC Recommended Group Size, Ratios & Minimum Space
Same-Age Groups
Age Total Group Size Square Feet/Group
Adult/Child Ratios
Birth to 8 Months
6 350 1:3
6 to 18 Months 9 500 1:3
16 to 36 Months
12 600 1:4Mixed-Age Groups — Early Head Start, Family Child Care
Age Total Group Size
Square Feet/Group
Adult/Child Ratios
Birth to 36 Months
8 600 1:4
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Together in Care: Small Groups
Together in Care: Meeting the Intimacy Needs of Infants and Toddlers in Groups, 1992.
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Activity: Dyad or Small Group Discussion
• Reflect on and discuss how close your program is to meeting PITC’s definition of small groups.
• What are your program’s strengths related to small groups?
• What are your program’s challenges in ensuring small groups both indoors and outdoors?
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Brain Storming:
What can we do to build on our strengths and reduce or eliminate our challenges to small groups?
• Short Term (next 3 months)
• Medium Term (next 1-2 years)
• Long Term (in 5 years)
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Revisit Learning Objectives for Small Groups:Participants will be able to:
• Describe PITC’s definition of small groups, including the recommended group size for each age of infancy, and the amount of space for each age group.
• Discuss the positive impacts on children and adults when infants are cared for in large groups.
• Identify ways in which small group size can be achieved and intimacy can be increased.