.“PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PREPARATION is critical to providing the most effective services for young children with disabilities and their families. Professional development is viewed and valued as an ongoing process guided by high standards and competencies for professional performance and practice. Professionals acquire the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to work with a variety of young children with disabilities and their families within natural and inclusive environments promoting children’s overall growth, development and learning and enhancing family quality of life. Finally, professionals continually should seek and interpret evidence based information for planning and implementing individually appropriate learning environments linked to ongoing assessment and collaboration with parents and professional team members “(NAEYC).
Professional development and preparation is very meaningful to me because it deals with how we interact with others when it comes to practicing as professionals. We are the professionals and must be the one that others can rely on and look up to for professional information and resources when it comes to improving the quality of lives for children with disabilities and their families.
“PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE encompasses the practice principles to promote and maintain high standards of conduct for the early childhood special education professional. The early childhood special education professional should base his or her behaviors on ethical reasoning surrounding practice and professional issues as well as an empathic reflection regarding interactions with others. We are committed to beneficence acts for improving the quality of lives of young children with disabilities and their families. The guidelines for practice outlined below provide a framework for everyday practice when working with children and families and with other professionals in the field of early childhood special education” (NAEYC).
I believe this is crucial for professionals to demonstrate, respect and appreciation for the children and families. We must inspire and build honest, trusting relationships with each child and their families. We must also assist providers to ensure that the learning environment provides individualization and developmentally appropriate suited for children with disabilities.
Ethical Responsibilities to Families
Ideals
I-2.2—To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve.
This is meaningful to me because I feel as professionals in the early childhood field we must develop trust when we create partnerships with children and families we care for. I believe that when you have a great relationship with families caring for the children becomes much easier especially when the parents are involved in the education of the children. I believe that every provider and teachers should make a good effort to create a relationship of trust which goes both ways. They trust you to care and educate their children and you trust them to be involved in their child’s care and education.
I-2.3—To welcome all family members and encourage them to participate in the program.
This is important that all families regardless of race, religion, culture, and ethnicity are welcome to the program so that each of them can feel comfortable to participate in the care and education of their children. The program should have cultural events to encourage multiural cultural experiences for the children and their families. I believe that when families are encouraged to participate they become very involved and dedicated to the education of their children in the program.
I-4.2—To promote cooperation among professionals and agencies and interdisciplinary collaboration among professions concerned with addressing issues in the health, education, and well-being of young children, their families, and their early childhood educators.
This ideal is one that stands out to me because we as educators must work together to collaborate with each other as professionals as we focus on the well-being of children, families and educators. I believe we must continue to advocate on the local, state and federal level as we address the issues that affect the health, wellness, care and education of children and their families. We also advocate for the early childhood educators that they are provided the appropriate education and resources to prepared to provide the high quality of care and education that our young children deserve.
Reference
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
Article: The Division for Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved May 26,
2010, from http://www.dec-sped.org/
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