Code of Ethics in ECE

The code of ethics consists of principles and ideals that professionals in our field are responsible for upholding. All of the principles and ideals are important and each serve its own purpose. The three that I find especially meaningful are as follows:

"I-1.1 To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training."

This ideal is especially important because we must grow as a field to always provide the most up-to-date practices for children. We should always be adapting to the research and changing in a way that is constantly benefiting the children.

"I-1.8 To support the right of each child to play and learn in an inclusive environment that meets the needs of children with and without disabilities."

Providing an inclusive environment for all children not only benefits every child in the program, but also teaches children diversity and acceptance for all people. I honestly feel that exposing children to differences at an early age will reduce bullying later in life. 

"I-2.8 To help family members enhance their understanding of their children and support the continuing development of their skills as parents."

It is important for us as professionals to remember that most parents do not have the education background in child development that we have. They also are not required to attend yearly trainings as we are. It is really important for us to reach out to the parents so that they are interested and invested in their child's education and to offer them as little or as much training as they would like. An investment in early childhood education will lead to an investment in their life-long education.

 Article: NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

Course Resources

Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
  
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pd

Part 2: Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
  
• Websites:
  
• • World Forum Foundation
    http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
    This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the media segment on this webpage
    
  • World Organization for Early Childhood Education
    http://www.omep-usnc.org/
    Read about OMEP's mission.
    
  • Association for Childhood Education International
    http://acei.org/
    Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
  
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
  
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
  
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
  
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/
  
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
  
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
  
• Children's Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
  
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
  
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
  
• Institute for Women's Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/
  
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
  
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
  
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
  
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067
  
• Voices for America's Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/

 
Additional Resources:

•  The National Head Start Association                                                                    www.nhsa.org 
• The Office of Head Start                                                          www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/
• Office of Child Care                                                                                            www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ 
• The Southern Early Childhood Association                                                      www.southernearlychildhood.org 

          

Quotes that Inspire

"Never work just for money or for power. They won't save your soul or help you sleep at night."
- Marian Wright Edelman

"If we don't stand up for children, then we don't stand for much."
- Marian Wright Edelman

"If we want to invest in the prosperity of our nation, we must invest in the education of our children so that their talents may be fully employed."
- President William J. Clinton

"We cannot build our own future without helping others to build theirs."
- President William J. Clinton

“We as professionals in the early childhood field have an opportunity to shape a child’s life for the better...”
- Sandy Escobido

“My passion comes from wanting to make a difference…I’m not here to save the world, I’m here just to make a difference in the community that I’m working."
- Raymond Hernandez