PREAMBLE

The NAEYC is aware that those who work with young children frequently have to make moral and ethical choices. The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct lays out standards for moral conduct and provides a framework for resolving the main moral conundrums that arise in early childhood care and education. The Statement of Commitment is a personal affirmation of a person's readiness to embrace the specific values and moral obligations of the early childhood care and education area. It is not a component of the Code. 

The Code's main emphasis is on daily interactions with kids and their families in programs for kids from birth to age eight, including infant/toddler programs, preschool and prekindergarten programs, child care centers, hospital and child life settings, family child care homes, kindergartens, and primary classrooms. These regulations also apply to experts who do not work directly with children, such as program administrators, parent educators, early childhood adult educators, and officials in charge of program monitoring and licensing, where the issues involve young children (NAEYC. 2011).

             CORE VALUES

The following core values, which have a long history in the field of early childhood care and education, serve as the foundation for ethical standards in the early childhood care and education sector. We have promised to do the following:

Recognize childhood as a special and priceless time of human development; 

Base our work on knowledge of how children learn and develop; 

Value and promote the relationship between the kid and family.

Respect the worth, dignity, and individuality of every person (children, family members, and coworkers)

Recognize that relationships based on mutual trust and respect are necessary for both children and adults to reach their full potential. 

Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture, community, and society (NAEYC. 2011).

Ethical Responsibilities to Children

Childhood is a special and important time in the development of a person. Our primary duty is to offer each child with care and education in environments that are secure, healthy, nurturing, and flexible. We are dedicated to fostering children's growth and learning, recognizing individual diversity, and assisting in the development of cooperative living, playing, and working skills in young children. The development of children's self-awareness, competence, self-worth, resiliency, and physical wellbeing is another priority of ours (NAEYC. 2011).

To be knowledgeable about the foundations of early childhood care and education and to keep informed through ongoing training and education. To base program decisions on the most recent research and expertise in the fields of early childhood education, child development, and allied fields, as well as the unique knowledge of each child.should be aware of and respect each child's individual qualities, skills, and potential. To recognize children's dependency on adults and their vulnerability.To provide and maintain secure and healthy environments that support young children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth while also honoring their worth and contributions.To employ evaluation tools and methods that are suitable for the kids being evaluated, that are solely applied for what they were made for, and that have the ability to help kids (NAEYC. 2011).

Identifying children who might require additional services as well as understanding and promoting children's growth and learning through assessment data. To advocate for every child's right to play and learn in a setting that is inclusive of both children with and without disabilities. to promote and make certain that every kid, especially those with special needs, has access to the assistance they require in order to succeed. to guarantee that the program acknowledges and values each child's culture, language, race, and family structure. To give every child exposure to a language they are familiar with and to encourage them to continue speaking their native tongue while still learning English. To collaborate with families to ensure a secure and seamless transition for kids and families moving from one program to another (NAEYC. 2011).

Ethical Responsibilities to Families

Families play a crucial role in a child's development. We accept a major obligation to foster communication, cooperation, and collaboration between the home and early childhood program in ways that benefit the child's development since the family and the early childhood practitioner have a shared interest in the child's well-being (NAEYC. 2011).

To be conversant in the body of knowledge necessary for working well with families, and to keep up with developments through ongoing education and training. To establish ties with the families we serve and cultivate relationships based on trust. Greeting and encouraging participation of all family members in the program, including shared decision-making.  In order to support families in their responsibility of raising children, we must listen to families, acknowledge and build on their strengths and competences, and learn from families. To guarantee that all children and families live in a culturally consistent environment, it is important to respect each family's dignity and preferences and make an effort to learn about their organization, language, traditions, and values. To respect parents' values in childrearing and their authority to make decisions for their kids (NAEYC. 2011).

To inform families on the education and development of each child while also assisting them in appreciating the state of the early childhood profession's knowledge base.

To aid families in better understanding their children, just as staff workers are bettering their understanding of each child through communications with families, and to assist families in refining their parenting abilities.  Fostering families' efforts to create support networks and, where necessary, taking part in their creation by giving them chances to communicate with program staff, other families, local resources, and professional services(NAEYC. 2011).