Examining Codes of Ethics

“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,”( The Division for Early Childhood, 2000).

As a Family Provider, I have had the pleasure of serving many families from all different types of nationalities and races. I find no matter the profession, but especial in the direct service field of early childhood education it is undoubtedly necessary to be respectful of others. It is essential for professions in the field to be culturally sensitive and culturally aware of others beliefs, values, traditions and customs in for to adequately serve the families and children they work with.  It is most fun to create awareness amongst my children through recipes, arts and craft, story time or during a circle time discussion.

 “We shall strive for the highest level of personal and professional competence by seeking and using new evidence based information to improve our practices while also responding openly to the suggestions of others,”(The Division for Early Childhood, 2000).

Within the past new few years the state of Maryland adopted a new Healthy beginning module and curriculum, in which Provider were encourage to utilizes during daily observations of the children they services. As a new Provider a year ago, this was easy for me to incorporate into my program, but there were many well-seasoned Provider who did not latch on to the idea initially of incorporate in this new assessment tool into their Program. As Early Childhood professional we must be open to change and be willing to use the most current evidence base curriculums or educational tools in the field in order to maximize the benefits that our families and their children will retain from our serve.  In order to grow and expand my knowledge base, I often ask for suggestion from other professionals in my line of work. I find that responding positively to other’s suggestions allows me the opportunity to better my work/ efforts and I can then return if needed for more idea or clarification.

  “We shall empower families with information and resources so that they are informed consumers

of services for their children,” (The Division for Early Childhood, 2000).

As a Family Provider, I and others in my position feel like we are the primary care givers to the children we serve. And it is unarguably true that the children I serve spend more hours in the day with me then they do with their parents. However, and I must emphasis how important it is to know you lane and stay in it. I only parent one child and that is mine. A major part of my responsibility in caring for young children is to make sure I am knowledge of the resources in my area  and that I am providing child care  relative information to my parents in a respect manner. Many of my parents are 1st time parents or are unaware of how to access the resources in the field.  I have a Parent Resource Board in my family child care setting and my monthly newsletter that highlights the various resources and latest information in the state of Maryland as it pertains to the field. My parents are very appreciative that I keep them informed and it is to my benefit to keep them informed.

“To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child,”(NAEYC , 2004).

I strongly believe that each child’s development is unique and child development occurs in varied speeds in general.  As Family Provider, I make an earnest attempt to dispel children being compared to other children. For example, many of my parents want to have their child potty trained by 3 completely, (this is a requirement for preschool) and most developmental models would suggest that this is something that a child by 3 years old should be able to do. On the other hand, there are many cases where a toddler is not potty trained until after she/he turns 3 years old. I am obligated to share and discuss with my parents in a respectful and impartial manner their child’s strengthens and weakness. Similarly, partnership is key with parents in order to maximize the potential of each child.

“To use assessment instruments and strategies that are appropriate for the children to be assessed,that are used only for the purposes for which they were designed, and that have the potential to benefit children,” (NAEYC, 2004).

There are so many observation tools that care providers can utilize on a daily basis. I recently attended a training on Observation and Assessment tools, I found that it is very beneficial to observe and assessment children daily, (week at minimum) in order to embark on their strengthens and help strengthen their weakness. The information gather helps me in the development of my lesson plans, activities, selection of books, craft etc. Likewise, the assessment instrument that I use are able to inform my parents in a very precise and non-basis manner how their child is developing.

“To advocate for and ensure that all children, including those with special needs, have access to the support services needed to be successful,” (NAEYC, 2004).

As a Family Provider, it is my responsibility to ensure that my children educational needs are being meet to the fullest and if I am unable to meet their needs especial, if they have a special need, I always find the available resource my in area that can assist in meeting my children needs. For example my son is a child in my child care program. I notice when he was 2 years old that he was struggle with speech and not development in this area at the level he should be for his age.  My son’s doctor concurred and he continues to receive speech therapy and since then his vocabulary has expanded and his speech has increased significantly. Although I am both his mother and care provider, I knew that he needed some additional support from an expert in the area of speech. Similarly he is more receptive to learning from his speech therapist then me at times, which is great, because this allow for partnership. When his therapist needs my help I can be there to assist her and vice verse. 

References

NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved June 15, 2012 from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

 The Division for Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved June 15, 20012 from

 http://www.dec-sped.org/