Ethics

NAEYC Values

Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage

of the human life cycle

•

Base our work on knowledge of how children develop

and learn

•

Appreciate and support the bond between the child

and family

•

Recognize that children are best understood and

supported in the context of family, culture,*

community,

and society

•

Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each

individual (child, family member, and colleague)

•

Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues

•

Recognize that children and adults achieve their full

potential in the context of relationships that are based

on trust and respect

 

 Three Ideals

1.  To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed
through continuing education and training.
- This ideal is important to me because of the connections education provides to myself and my staff.  Being in a classroom provides a sense of, "I am not Alone." It also provides the connection with the bigger world of childcare.  It provides refresher knowledge and current thinking on how to properly care for children.

2. To appreciate the vulnerability of children and their dependence on adults.
- We work in a dangerous place, especially for children.  They are not physically or mentally prepared to face the violence of our world.  It is very important that we all watch out for them.  They are precious in God's sight and they should be in ours also.  Children look to us to keep them safe, so it must be a priority for us.

3. To create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.
- Everyday we fight this battle in our center.  Sometimes things happen that jeopardize a child's health and/or safety.  Speaking from experience no one wants to experience this.  We do all we can to provide the healthiest and safest setting for our children, sometimes to the exclusion of everything else.  We love the children in our care and there is nothing more satisfying than seeing children happy, or laughing or trying to figure some puzzle or homework out.