9.3 The Importance of Professionalism in ECE as Related to Families
9.3 The Importance of Professionalism in ECE as Related to Families
Ardene Niemer, M.Ed.
The NAEYC document Power to the Profession (P2P) Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession (Power to the Profession Task Force, 2020) offers guidance that supports ECE professionals in striving to build this profession. P2P guides educators to engage in professionalism in a way that elevates the knowledge and skills of families and communities. NAEYC expects that ECE professionals respect the professional and ethical obligation to develop relationship with all families and the communities served, paying particular attention to those families from diverse cultures, languages, and experiences who are often marginalized.
To do this, it is essential to create opportunities with families that value their experiences, views, beliefs, and current world views. When we actively integrate this knowledge of our families in the curriculum and the classroom, it ensures that we are more able to respect, learn about, understand, and embrace families’ cultures and communities; and supports us in building stronger partnership and connections with families and communities with the end goal of supporting all children.
According to NAEYC’s P2P (Power to the Profession Task Force, 2020), the guidelines for early childhood educators that relate to our connections with families include: (a) identify and participate as members of the early childhood profession; (b) serve as informed advocates for young children, for the families of the children in their care, and for the early childhood profession, and (c) have professional communication skills that effectively support their relationship and work with young children, families, and colleagues.
Building a sense of community goes beyond a simple partnership with families. In a classroom, we are connected by the common interest or purpose of quality education and services for young children. This is our community of learners. To enhance the educational experience of the young children, we work to make each child and family feel valued, and connected, and that they belong.
Here are some questions to get you started:
Sometimes teachers, providers, and ECE professionals are challenged with cultural differences between themselves and the families, viewing cultural differences as challenges to overcome when working with families. To address this belief, focus on the potential resources available in the community.
Following are some questions to ask yourself before talking with families. It is essential to your success in building relationships with families that are positive and supportive:
- What are your beliefs and practices related to working with culturally and ethnically diverse children and families?
- What resources do you need to support your growth in learning about what culture is, and how to work with diverse families?
- In addition to learning from the families in your program, where in your community will