National Association for the Education of Young Children and Division for Early Childhood of the council for Exceptional Children offer guidelines for professional practice with young children and sets forth ethical resolutions when faced with daily decisions that have a moral and ethical implication. Three of the ideals contained in the NAEYC and DEC codes of ethics that are meaningful to me are:
1-1.1 To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.
As a professional in the early childhood field we have an opportunity to shape a child’s life for the better therefore it is important to stay abreast with the current research and ideas, to be able to understand, be able to change and adapt. For this reason it helps to join sites like NAEYC and subscribe to journals like Young Children which are storehouses of valuable information that can enrich our professional wisdom.
1-1.2 To base program practices upon current knowledge and research in the field of early childhood education, child development, and related disciplines, as well as on particular knowledge of each child.
Seeking and using new evidence based information while implementing curriculum, constructing assessment and program evaluation helps to improve our professional practice with young children.
1-2.7 To share information about each child’s education and development with families and to help them understand and appreciate the current knowledge base of the early childhood profession.
It is important to involve families in their child’s education program and inform them of the program philosophy, curriculum and assessment system and explain to them why we teach as we do. It is our responsibility as early childhood practitioners to bring about the communication, cooperation and collaboration between the home and early childhood program to enhance the child’s development.
Deepa, I think your choices address the core of what we do as early childhood educators. I see that you like YC publication, too. I plan to subscribe to it, also!
ReplyDeleteDeepa, Our biggest role as early childhood professionals is to remain current on the latest research. The families trust us with their most precious resources. We also educate the families. I agree that "cooperation and collaboration between the home and the early childhood program enhances the child's development." I think for children consistency is important and necessary.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts on here. Collaboration with families and children are the most important part of our job. We must understand our responsibilities as educators and provide environments that supports these important people.
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