1. WestEd.org Infant & Toddler Group Care Small Groups

2. WestEd.org 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.

3. WestEd.org 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.

4. WestEd.org 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.

5. WestEd.org 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

6. WestEd.org “Move About” Activity What are the benefits to having small groups? For the child? For the family? For the teachers?

7. WestEd.org 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.

8. WestEd.org 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.

9. WestEd.org PITC Recommended Group Size, Ratios & Minimum Space Same-Age Groups AgeTotal Group SizeSquare Feet/Group Adult/Child Ratios Birth to 8 Months63501:3 6 to 18 Months95001:3 16 to 36 Months126001:4 Mixed-Age Groups — Early Head Start, Family Child Care AgeTotal Group Size Square Feet/Group Adult/Child Ratios Birth to 36 Months86001:4

10. WestEd.org Together in Care: Small Groups Together in Care: Meeting the Intimacy Needs of Infants and Toddlers in Groups, 1992.

11. WestEd.org 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?

12. WestEd.org 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)

13. WestEd.org 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.