I am a second-year Camosun College student in the Early Learning and Care department. A key factor in quality child care is the educator-to-child ratios. The current ratios in B.C. are too high and take away from every child receiving the same level of care.
Parents are looking for the "perfect" centre for their children to attend. They are looking for a safe environment, educated teachers and a philosophy they agree with. This high-quality child care exists; however, centres lack the funding to be able to have the appropriate number of educators on shift.
In B.C., the ratio for group daycare for nine to 12 children under the age of 36 months is one infant-toddler educator, one early-childhood educator (ECE) and one assistant.
For group daycare for 17 to 25 children 30 months to school age, the ratio is one ECE and two assistants. In a preschool facility, the ratio is 16 to 20 children to one ECE and one assistant.
All children in child-care programs aren't getting the care and attention they need. Having a smaller number of children per adult will provide more time to give undivided attention to each individual child, more interaction and one-on-one time with each child, more positive developmental outcomes, children being less likely to come in contact with danger, and even children imitating speech and gestures earlier and more often.
We need to enhance the level of supervision and staffing in child-care settings.
Santana Storoschuk
Cobble Hill
