Psychologists from the University of Nijmegen, Holland, conducted two ten-minute controlled observations of 217 caregivers at 64 daycare settings, one with a group of three children and one with a group of five.
The children were randomly selected from the caregivers' regular groups and aged from infancy to four years.
The researchers measured a caregiver's behaviour towards a group of children during structured play. They also measured the children's wellbeing and their co-operation with the caregiver.
Elles de Schipper, developmental psychologist and an author of the study, said, 'The main difference is that when there are three children, a caregiver is better able to divide her attention and adapt her behaviour to individuals. The ratios are more important for under-twos, because they are less able to ask for attention or help.'
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