Activity 3.2 | Ethical Practice in Early Learning and Child Care
Activity 3.2 | Ethical Practice in Early Learning and Child Care
Code(s) of Ethics
Early childhood educators enter the sector because they enjoy being with young children and are passionate about supporting their well-being. The skill set for an early childhood educator includes communication skills, organizational skills to be able to create safe environments, knowledge of child development, creativity, patience, understanding diversity, and trust building.
Trust building takes time and effort. Many children are spontaneous and eager to meet the ‘new teacher’ while others stay back, observing and deciding how and if they want to form a relationship. The educator who has just arrived in the children’s space will enter with a friendly smile and greeting, allowing the children to feel comfortable before their interactions begin.
Early Childhood Education professionals have worked steadily over the last five decades to develop guidelines for practitioners. Since the Hippocratic Oath was created for physicians nearly 2500 years ago, groups of professionals have defined the boundaries of their profession and sworn that they would do no harm to those they work with.Young children are humanity’s most valuable resource. Indigenous communities believe children are a gift from the Creator. Our time with them is precious and we must take great care in how we teach and model.
In Canada, each province has developed similar Codes of Ethics for early childhood educators. Each student in the profession spends considerable time learning and embedding ethical conduct into their daily lives. A leader in a childcare centre has the responsibility to ensure that all educators are aware and follow the Code of Ethics.
- Review the ECEBC Code of Ethics, which has notably been revised several times, most recently in 2021.
- Review the Canadian Child Care Federation Code of Ethics
Examples of other provinces' Codes of Ethics (optional)
References
Canadian Child Care Federation. (n.d.). Our code of ethics. https://cccf-fcsge.ca/about-canadian-child-care-federation/values/code-ethics/
Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia. (2021). Code of ethics. https://www.ecebc.ca/resources-merchandise/code-of-ethics
Ontario College. (2017). Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. https://www.college-ece.ca/en/Documents/Code_and_Standards_2017.pdf
Manitoba. (n.d.). Code of Ethics. https://mccahouse.org/sites/default/files/Code-of-Ethics-Principles.pdf