Who is an

EARLY CHILDHOOD
PROFESSIONAL?

Ms. Tisha N. Deadio

Learning Outcomes:

• List the four dimensions of professionalism in

early childhood.
• Explain who the early childhood professional
is.
• List characteristics of early childhood
professionals.
 Introduction

In the field of early childhood education, the topic of

professionalism is of great importance. As ECE
professionals, we need to make sure that we're
recognized for the valuable work that we do. Working
with young children and their families is one of the
hardest jobs that there is. It's emotionally exhausting,
and more often than not, challenging. It is extremely
difficult to convey this importance to anyone who
does not do what we do for a living. As early childhood
professionals, we must hold ourselves to a high
standard if we want to change the way that we are
seen by society.
 Who is An Early Childhood Professional?

First An early childhood professional is someone who has the

personal characteristics, knowledge and skills necessary to
provide programs that facilitate children's learning. We are
facilitators of an environment that allows children to learn and
grow, to be safe, and to gather the skills and acquire the
abilities that they're going to need for later success.
Next, an early childhood professional is someone who has the
ability to inform the public about child and family issues. We
need to be able to get out there and let people know why early
childhood matters, so they are aware of what is so critical
about those first five years.
 Who is An Early Childhood Professional?

- An early childhood professional is someone who

promotes high standards for themselves. We make
sure that we're doing absolutely the best that we can
for young children.
- An early childhood professional is also someone who
is continuously improving. We're always trying to
expand our knowledge base, and to hone our skills
and our abilities. 
- How early childhood professionals are viewed by society
relates to many factors, one of which is how we present
ourselves. In order to be viewed as a professional, we
must act as professionals. When a parent picks up their
child, as an early childhood professional, it is important
that we share with them positive aspects about their child.
Inform them what their child learned today, or the skills
that we focused on. Those are the types of things that
start to change how parents see us. Another component
that allows the ECE professional to be viewed in a positive
light is if we have a good understanding of and background
knowledge of the field of early childhood development.
That way, when parents have questions, they feel like they
can come to us with those questions, and that we would
be able to deliver competent answers.
 Dimensions of Professionalism

• There are four main dimensions, or standards,

of professionalism in the field of early
childhood:
1. Professional Knowledge
2. Competence
3. Commitment to the Ethical Standard
4. Personal Characteristics
 Professional Knowledge
1. Professional knowledge is essential knowledge of best
practices within the field. For example, knowing that
three-year-old children learn best through manipulation of
materials. A three-year-old will learn to count a lot better
with counting bears or sorting mats, than looking at a
worksheet about how to count.
2. Another aspect of professional knowledge is
understanding the way children learn and grow, and
applying that knowledge.
3. Professional knowledge also includes staying in the know
about issues that affect young children and their families.
 Competence

Competence has many facets. First, when we portray ourselves as

competent in our skills and our professional abilities, we exhibit
a professional image.
There are a wide variety of things we can do to portray competence. One
of the things we can do is to get to know the children in our classroom.
Remember their names, get to know their personalities, find out their
preferences. Parents are impressed when you know what their child
likes and doesn't like, as well as when you know a little bit about their
temperament and personality.
As stated earlier, in order to maintain a competent and professional
image, we need to seek out professional development opportunities.
Early childhood professionals wear a lot of hats, so to speak. As such,
we should make an effort to go above and beyond what is required of
us, to ensure that we obtain enough professional development hours
to remain competent and current in all aspects of our field.
 Commitment to the Ethical Standard
Seven core values for ethical conduct:
• Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage of
the human life cycle. Early childhood does not exist so
that we can hurry children along. It is a valuable and
unique stage that needs to be valued and respected, and
taken for what it is, in all those opportunities for learning.
• Base our work on knowledge of how children develop and
learn. We need to understand how the brain of a
developing young child works.
• Appreciate and support the bond between the child and
family. We don't try to replace that or alter that bond in
any way.
- Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the
context of family, culture, community, and society. Remember that
they don't develop in a vacuum.
- Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual.
This includes not only the children we teach, but also family
members and colleagues. We respect and support each other.
- Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues.
- Recognizing that children and adults achieve their full potential
in the context of relationships that are based on trust and respect.
During this presentation, we've talked a lot about relationships. It
is critical to remember that both adults and children thrive when
they are in trusting and respectful relationships.
 Personal Characteristics of an ECE Professional

• The fourth dimension of professionalism involves some personal

characteristics, which fall into four categories:
1. Personal Character
2. Emotional Qualities
3. Physical Health
4. Mental Health

Personal character. Having a love and true respect for children

is something that cannot be taught. That's something that
you're born with. Also, as alluded to earlier, having an
understanding of children and their families is important as well,
in order to develop positive relationships.
-Emotional qualities. The ECE professional should
possess compassion, empathy and sensitivity. We must exude
friendliness, kindness and warmth, in order to be perceived as
approachable. 
-Physical health. Why is it important to be healthy and fit as
an early childhood professional? First of all, when you're
healthy, you can do your best and be your best. Children
are naturally energetic. When we're healthy, we can keep up
with them. We've got to be able to keep up with the interests,
desires, and needs of the children. In addition, we're role
models for young children in every single way. We have to
demonstrate a concern for our own physical health. We
have to make sure that by our example, we are modeling a
healthy lifestyle. That doesn't mean that every early childhood
professional needs to be a supermodel or a bodybuilder. It
simply means that we need to be physically healthy and that
we can take care of ourselves, so that ultimately, we can take
care of the children.
Good mental health is important because it enables us as
early childhood professionals to instill good mental health
habits in children. If we feel good about ourselves, about the
profession and the work that we do, then we can make sure
that children feel good about themselves, about their childcare
center, and about what they're learning. We can make sure that
children feel good about their families and the members who
comprise their family.
 • Summary and Conclusion
• In summary, the four dimensions of professionalism
(professional knowledge, competence, commitment to the
ethical standard and personal characteristics) work in
tandem to make up a qualified, competent, and ethical
workforce of early childhood professionals. Ultimately, if we
wish to change how society views our work, we can use
these four dimensions as a guide for ensuring that
we hold ourselves to the highest of standards. Because after
all, we are teachers, not babysitters!
• To conclude, I encourage you to seek out professional
development training so that you can grow your professional
knowledge. Practice optimism on a daily basis. Peer
relationships are also very important. Participate in team
building activities that demonstrate the value of the
"many hands make light work" .
Thank you so much for joining me for this session on
professionalism in early childhood.
Always remember that we are, in fact, teachers, We
should feel good about the vital role that we play in
young children's lives .

"Good Early Childhood Professionals care about

children. Great Early Childhood Professionals care about all
children and their families.“

Thank you.