2 year old to teacher ratio is 11 to one what do you think?

Question

i think its crazy i am getting antsy staying home and was thinking about going back to work but when i went to see some of the child care centers in my area i was shocked to find the ratio for two year olds is 11 2 year olds for 1 care giver anyone else think thats crazy some of the centers are really nice but i feel like i would be putting her at risk if i put her in i don't think anyone could handle that what do some of you people think am i being over protective of just cautious, would you leave you 2 year old there if you had too?????

thanks for all the great answers i live in florida and that is the state ratio i have checked

Answer 1

I’m telling you as a teacher who has worked in that type on environment, don’t do it! It can, at times, get really chaotic with nap time, story time, lunch/snack time, and diaper changing. The children feed off of each other. There were times when I was changing a diaper in one area and seconds later every toy was on the floor! It is way too much for one teacher to keep up with. I did not stay there long. Schools like this are in it for the money not to provide what is best for the children.

Have you considered looking into a Montessori program? Many traditional preschools do not require teachers to be trained. Many of these schools only require 6 to 12 units in Early Childhood Education. Most Montessori school require teacher training. To become a Montessori teacher, one needs to complete 8 classes (24 units) and does an internship for a year where her teachers come observe monthly. There is a really different “feel” between Montessori and traditional schools.

To pick a program, make a list of a few that you want to observe. I would go and observe each program for about an hour and watch without your child so you can get a good observation. Ask yourself some questions. "Are the children happy? Do the teachers seem happy? Are the children respectful? Does the teacher have good classroom management skills? Do the children "run a muck" or are they calm? Is the classroom clean and orderly?" Once you do this you will get a feel for the program and know if it is the right one for you.

I would ask how long the teachers have been there. Good programs keep their teachers. I would also ask about the teacher’s education. Find out if the school follows a teaching philosophy (Montessori, High Scope) if the teachers are trained in that area. Ask the teacher some hypothetical questions and see how she responds. "What would you do if a child bit another child? What would you do if a child broke something on purpose?" See if her responses match your ideas. Make sure that the teachers are trained in CPR. Find out about their sick policy. Go with your gut! Good luck!

Answer 2

if you don't mind me asking, where do you live? did you check with the state to see if that is correct? when you observed the classes did they seem to be peaceful and under control or just very chaotic and dirty?

here are ratios are:
infants 1:4
1s 1:6
2s 1:8
3s 1:10
4s 1:12

you can have doube the amount if they are all sleeping and for an hour in the morning during drop off and an hour in the afternoon for pick up, except for the babies which is always 1:4.

are you sure that this isn't a double class with 2 teachers or a teacher and an aid at all times?

Good luck! SD

Answer 3

Some states require childcare centers to have a better child to teacher ratio than that. Are you looking at private babysitters or schools? I have trouble enough controlling ONE two year old, let alone eleven! Keep looking elsewhere, perhaps you could even place an ad in the newspaper and hire a daytime nanny or babysitter. You may even have nursery schools/ early childhood education in your area in place through churches or public schools..check them out, too. I think 11 to 1 is way too overwhelming for anyone, and you're better off finding something that's not so crowded. Remember, you should be comfortable leaving your daughter somewhere while you're gone.

Answer 4

If you don't want to put your 2-year-old in that environment, then don't. Even in a 6:1 ratio, 2-year-olds are cooty-magnets, and your little darling would pick up every cold and sniffle, bring it home, and make you sick, too.

Staying at home makes all of us a little weird at times. But there are alternatives (besides crawling up the wall or hiding in the car with the doors locked). If you have a rec center in the area, see if you can find a baby-and-me fitness class or play group. Check local resources for a mom's night out program or a drop-in nursery that would let you get a nice hair cut or a manicure, or have a normal lunch for an hour, without committing to putting your child in daycare each week. See if there's a MOPS group that can help come up with ideas. We're pulling for you. We're all in this together. Good luck--

Answer 5

That is crazy... I have done it. Most centers are 12:1, so 11:1 is slightly better, but not by much. 12 Toddlers is too many, especially since the incidence of inclusion of children with behavior problems and ADHD is higher than it used to be. I can't believe I used to work in a 12:1 center... I am so spoiled now. Currently, I work in a center whose ratio is 3:1, BUT we serve 60% children with identified disabilities. So, we need to have more supervision for our children, and even though our daily total of children never exceeds 14 with 4 teachers, it still isn't enough some days. Still 12:1 is the state law in my area, and centers do not have to provide more coverage than that... however, if the center is accredited by NAEYC, they will be held to a higher standard, and lower ratios... So, try to find a center in your area that is accredited by the NAEYC. Centers with higher ratios will have more incidences of accidents and behavior problems. That is just the nature of preschools. One teacher does not have 12 eyes, no matter how good she is. A good center will look beyond the payment of a teacher's check in order to look out for the good of the children and families they serve.

Answer 6

That ratio is insane. What state do you live in? Most have regulations on that kind of thing, and I can't believe that's acceptable. My 2 year old son has 11 kids in his class and 3 teachers.

I work full time and have really wonderful child care available to me through my employer. It's a great situation, and I am able to be happy at work knowing my kids are in such an excellent facility. The one you are talking about is far from ideal. Don't do it unless you are 100% comfortable with the place you are leaving your kids.

Answer 7

Personally I think the ratio is crazy! However, keep looking for the right center or provider. My guy is 7 months and is at a great center. The two class at his center has 15 kids, 2 teachers and one aide, a perfect ratio for me! But I know different states have different requirements. My center is in a church, and they go beyond the state ratios to provide a great setting for my boy.

If you feel you need to go back to work, that's great, just trust your gut. I feel in love with my center as soon as I took the tour. Others seemed okay, but not great!

Answer 8

First, that ratio is outrageous. I, too, call myself a SAHM. I have returned to school full-time so I put my daughter in a daycare facility that has a 7:1 ratio for 2 year olds. She got 3 ear infections in 4 months. Her pediatrician recommended I pull her out. She had been in a family childcare facility and had 1 ear infection in her first 2 years of life. Her second and third ear infections required 2 and 3 rounds of antibiotics to clear. I also didn't think she received any one-on-one attention at the daycare facility, but I love having a provider that has less than 6 children. My daughter is always clean and is able to have one-on-one attention every day.

Please think about looking at family childcare at www.nafcc.org.

Answer 9

You could try looking for an inhome day care. You, of course, would want to make sure the person does have a licence. We use in home daycare. My provider can have up to 6 kids (2 under 2 and 4 over the age of 2 I believe). Depending on the licence they can have different amounts of kids and different ages. My particular day care is infants and toddlers, so everyone is with in about 3 or 4 years of age and they get along really well.

Answer 10

Well, for full-time care that seems like a high number of children. If you're looking at a preschool for like 2 half-days or something, then I think it's fine.

I'm a SAHM too, and I'm looking for part-time work in the evenings and weekends. My son is 3, and they have a bunch of kids at centers too for his age group. It wouldn't bother me b/c at this age though because they get so much from other children interaction.

Have you thought about a preschool program?