In any field you choose to work in whether if it's business, education, healthcare, counseling and etc. There are Codes of Ethics that everyone have to follow to ensure professionalism as well as respect for clients, the company, as well as yourself. In the field of Early Childhood there are two specific organizations I am going to share a few Codes of Ethics from Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children and the National Association for the Education of Young Children that I feel are meaningful to me.
Division of Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC)
- We shall honor and respect the rights, knowledge, and skills of the multidisciplinary colleagues with whom we work recognizing their unique contributions to children, families, and the field of early childhood special education
This particular code is meaningful to me because when I do reach that ultimate goal of opening up my own private preschool. I want to be able to build a team of people who not only share a passion for making a difference in the lives of children and families. Also, take their thoughts and ideas into consideration that could help strengthen different aspects of the school. By doing this as a professional you have to respect other individuals rights, beliefs, and knowledge they have to contribute to the field of early childhood. Regardless if you agree with them or not.
- We shall demonstrate our respect and concern for children, families, colleagues and others with whom we work, honoring their beliefs, values, customs, languages and culture.
This code is meaningful to me because as an Early Childhood Professional you have to lead by example and demonstrate professional courtesy when interacting with children and families whose ethnicity, values, beliefs, and customs are different from your own. By demonstrating such practices this definitely creates an awareness to children and families of different cultural backgrounds that you respect them and what they believe in regardless if it does or doesn't align with your beliefs. Being able to lead by example and training your staff to follow in your footsteps would be beneficial in the long run.
- We shall demonstrate our respect and appreciation for all families, beliefs, values, customs, languages, and culture relative to their nuturance and support of their children toward achieving meaningful and relevant priorities and outcomes families, desire for themselves and their children.
This code is meaningful and yet very important to me because as an Early Chilhood Professional showing children and families that having respect for their values, beliefs, customs, languages and etc. Allows children and families to be comfortable in our Early Childhood enviornment where they will feel even more comfortable developing long lasting relationships with the early childhood educators and being involved with their child's education.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- I-1.5 To create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.
This code is meaninful and important to me because I want to achieve my ultimate goal and create a learning institution where children feel safe and enjoy the environment as well as parents feeling like my learning institution is "top of the line" and extremely suitable for their child and believe that their child will receive the best education, as well as develop socially, cognitively, and physically.
- I-1.10 To ensure that each child's culture, language, ethnicity, and family structure are recognized and valued in the program.
This code is meaninful to me because I am very diverse and I love learning about other cultures and languages. Being able to incorporate other cultures, and languages in the learning environments strengthens children in many ways and it shows parents that children are learning about cultures different from their own.
- I-3C.1 To promote safe and healthy working conditions and policies that foster mutual respect, cooperation, collaboration, competence, well being, confidentiality, and self-esteem in staff members.
This code is meaninful and very important to me because I have worked in Early Childhood Settings that completely knocked me out of my comfort zone and had an effect on my self-esteem as an Early Childhood Educator. From my previous experiences in Early Childhood settings I know what NOT to do as far as treating my staff as if they aren't important. I want to be able to establish an environment where my staff feels comfortable, and are able to cooperate as well as collaborate as a team to be able to provide a great environment for their class as well as amongst themselves.
