If you`re experiencing an ethical issue, it can be helpful to remember that it`s either a responsibility or a dilemma – it can`t be both. A characteristic of an ethical dilemma is that it involves considerations. It can rarely be solved quickly or simply by applying rules and relying on facts. You won`t find simple solutions to the dilemmas you face in your early childhood workplace in an article or book. However, you can learn to work through these difficult considerations under the guidance of the NAEYC Code. If you are sure you have encountered an ethical dilemma, you can use the process described in the following example to find a defensible solution. P-1.1 – Above all, we will not harm children. We must not engage in practices that are emotionally harmful, physically harmful, disrespectful, degrading, dangerous, exploitative or intimidating to children. This principle prevails over all other statements in this Code. It may be useful to consider ethical responsibilities as very similar to legal responsibilities because they require or prohibit a specific action.

And sometimes the legal and ethical responsibilities are the same – for example, reporting child abuse. and must not. However, the fact is that even well-meaning and conscientious early childhood educators, instead of fulfilling this responsibility, are sometimes tempted to do what is easiest or what others like. It is important to remember that if you encounter a situation that involves ethical responsibility, you must follow the clear direction of the Code. The most important of the responsibilities set out in the NAEYC Code is Principle 1.1: As we have written in the NAEYC books on work ethics, an early childhood educator must first determine whether it is an ethical issue in the face of a difficult workplace situation. Our experience tells us that this can be a difficult process that many are not sure about. The first question you should ask yourself is, “Does this affect good and evil, rights and duties, human well-being, or the good of the individual?” If you answer no to each of these points, the situation is not an ethical question and you can treat it as you would with any workplace problem. If you answer yes to any of the points, you are facing an ethical problem. How you respond to it depends on whether it is an ethical responsibility or an ethical dilemma. The primary legal responsibility of a childminder ensures the safety of the children.

You`ll need to comply with state regulations, which may include first aid and CPR certification, as well as plans for emergencies such as fires or tornadoes. In addition, the house or center must comply with hygiene and fire safety rules, including smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Workers must know the relevant medical history of each child and be prepared to prevent the resulting health problems and provide first aid. These include diseases such as asthma or diabetes and allergies to food, medication or bee stings. If the childcare worker is transporting children, the car must also contain extra cars and appropriate seats. If conduct is one of the workers` responsibilities, the daycare or family can verify the worker`s conduct. The Focus on Ethics column in this issue asks you to look at the story of 3-year-old Jane, whose family doesn`t want her to drink water at school until she finishes drinking her milk. This ethical issue, like others we have presented in previous columns, involves a conflict between a family member`s requests and what teachers think is good practice. Educators encounter many ethical issues in their work with children and families. Each of Focus on Ethics` columns in Young Children asks an ethical question and challenges our readers to determine how an early childhood educator might best respond.

In most cases, childminders are not legally responsible for the care of sick children. However, if a child becomes ill or the employee accepts the care of a sick child, the employee is responsible for adequate medical care. This may include providing a resting place for the child, administering medication, or calling 911 for emergency medical care if necessary. Information on ethical responsibilities and dilemmas comes from two NAEYC books, Ethics and the Early Childhood Educator: Using the NAEYC Code, second edition, and teaching the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct: A Resource Guide (to be published in spring 2016). Enter an author, title, or keyword at the top and click Search to find what you`re looking for in the library`s collection. If you find that a situation involves ethics and you don`t believe it`s a responsibility, it`s probably an ethical dilemma. A dilemma is a situation for which there are two possible solutions, each of which can be morally justified. A dilemma requires a person to choose between two actions, each with benefits, but also costs.

In a dilemma, the legitimate needs and interests of one person or group must give way to those of another person or group – hence the commonly used term “on the horns of a dilemma” that describes the two-pronged nature of these situations. The example of an ethical dilemma that we often give is the case of the mother who asks a teacher not to let her child take a nap at school, because when he sleeps in the afternoon, he has trouble falling asleep at night. The teacher must choose to comply with the mother`s request, which may have a detrimental effect on the child, or to reject the request, which will have a negative effect on the mother. Over the years, we have organized workshops and courses on professional ethics, we have found that early childhood educators do not always know the difference between ethical responsibility and an ethical dilemma, nor do they know how to approach them. To make this distinction clearer, we decided to use this March 2016 column to explore these two types of ethical issues. As a parent, you rely on childminders to take care of your children and keep them safe when you`re not around. Childminders can take care of your children at your home or in a daycare. Every state has laws and regulations to ensure that all children have a safe environment when their parents are not around. In addition, childminders must not abuse the children in their care. Some examples of abusive behavior include grabbing, shouting and shouting, and forcing hugs and kisses. Ethical responsibilities are mandates that are clearly set out in the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct – they describe how early childhood educators should act and what they should do A discussion of the difference between ethical responsibility and an ethical dilemma and the ethics analysis process is described in detail in Chapter 3 (pages 27-36) of Ethics and Early Childhood Educator.

second edition. The book also includes examples of how the code can be applied to a number of dilemmas that are common in early childhood programs. Educators often rely on a team approach. Good employee relations are essential to get a high-quality service. It is important to establish and maintain attitudes and relationships that support productive work and meet professional needs. Child care workers must meet education and certification requirements in their state. Some states do not have education requirements, while others require a high school diploma or a diploma in parenting education. Head Start child care workers must be graduates or enrolled in a related parenting program, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Some states and employers also require certification, such as . B Certification of the Child Development Associate (CDA) from the Council for Professional Recognition. You can rest assured that if you`ve done the right thing, the code is there to support you. You can count on her to help you explain why you made a difficult or unpopular decision.

Early childhood educators recognize the responsibility to work with both home and school. Maureen Malone began writing in 2008. She writes articles for economic development and informational articles on various websites. Malone holds a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management with a specialization in Biology from DeVry University. When you`ve finished reviewing this case and decided on the best course of action for Kristen, send an email to the co-editors that includes your recommendation and a brief description of how you used the code to make that decision. Should Kristen respect the family`s wishes or allow Jane to continue drinking water instead of milk? How could he use the NAEYC Code to guide his thinking and decision-making in this situation? Families are of paramount importance for children`s development. The term family may include, in addition to parents, other people who deal responsibly with the child. .