what are the characteristics of a professional in early childhood education

Top 12 Characteristics of a Great Early Childhood Education Teacher

• Patient Of all of the characteristics of great early childhood educators, whether in a school or a child care center, patience is perhaps the most important of them all. ...
• Impact-Aware ...
• Creative ...
• Passionate About Teaching ...
• Observant ...
• Compassionate ...
• Communicative ...
• Physically Fit ...

Full Answer

What does it mean to be professional in childcare?

Professional child care providers use the best standards, practices, strategies, resources and materials available. Acting professional is hard for any home based business. Think about professional goal development, organization membership, and accreditation to in- crease professionalism.

What are the most important indicators of professionalism in early childhood?

Three primary indicators constitute the meaning of professionalism: responsibility, respect, and risk taking.

What are the 5 characteristics of high quality early childhood education?

How do you recognize quality programs?Classroom interaction. ... Positive environment. ... Support. ... Stable workforce. ... Administrator support. ... Appropriate curriculum for age group. ... Family interaction. ... Quality improvement.More items...•

What is the role of an early childhood professional?

Early childhood professionals also provide family support, build relationships with children and families, enhance child development, and provide intervention.

What are 4 important characteristics of professionalism?

The eight core characteristics of professionalism are: Competence, Knowledge, Conscientiousness, Integrity, Respect, Emotional Intelligence, Appropriateness, and Confidence.

What are 10 characteristics of professionalism?

True professionals possess a number of important characteristics that can apply to virtually any type of business.Appearance. A professional is neat in appearance. ... Demeanour. ... Reliability. ... Competence. ... Ethics. ... Maintaining Your Poise. ... Phone Etiquette. ... Written Correspondence.More items...•

What are the 3 primary elements of an early childhood educator?

Developmentally appropriate practice requires early childhood educators to seek out and gain knowledge and understanding using three core considerations: commonality in children's development and learning, individuality reflecting each child's unique characteristics and experiences, and the context in which development ...

What are the characteristics of a high quality early childhood program?

What components are necessary to achieve and maintain high levels of quality?Professional and stable teacher workforce. ... Effective leadership. ... Age-appropriate curriculum. ... Comprehensive family engagement activities. ... Multilevel continuous quality improvement system. ... Sustainable and sufficient set of funding mechanisms.

What is the most important aspect of early childhood education?

Socialization: A Key Component to Early Childhood Education Children who take part in early childhood education programs have improved social skills. In a preschool setting, children learn crucial skills like listening, sharing, and taking turns with others.

How do you maintain professionalism in early childhood education?

Professionalism in early childhood education and care requires (a) engaging in ongoing dialogue with others, both within and outside the field, to advance the state of knowledge through various types of observation, research, and reflection; (b) communicating the importance of high quality care and education for young ...

What is the role of a professional educator?

Professional educators are accountable to their clients, community, parents and students, providing a quality educational program for all children. Professional educators belong to an organization that promotes their profession above personal gain.

What are the roles and responsibilities of childcare professionals?

DutiesSupervise and monitor the safety of children.Prepare and organize mealtimes and snacks for children.Help children keep good hygiene.Change the diapers of infants and toddlers.Organize activities or implement a curriculum that allows children to learn about the world and explore their interests.More items...•

What are the 3 important factors in professionalism?

The Five Most Important Factors in Professional Relationships (According to Modern Thought Leaders)Mutual Respect. ... Communication. ... Trust. ... Welcome Diversity. ... Mindfulness.

What are the 5 P's of professionalism?

The Five P's correspond to: Possibility, Presence, People, Perspective, and Perseverance. WGU Career and Professional Development is available to assist you with each of these important elements.

What are the 3 key elements of professionalism?

Essential elements of professional behavior include knowledge and skills about a field, communication and relationship skills, work ethic, and professional ethics.

What are the three most important aspects of professionalism for a teacher?

What are the elements of pro fessionalism? This article catego rizes some of the most critical ones into three main categories: atti tude, behavior, and communica tion. Addressing these areas can help any teacher to develop a stronger sense of professionalism.

Why is it important to teach kids to be patient?

You need to understand that the children in your care may not always grasp what’s appropriate. It’s up to you to teach them. Show them the way and give them your unhurried time and attention.

Why do teachers step into the role?

Teachers of all kinds step into the role because they just can’t imagine doing anything else. They were born to teach. Do you feel the same way? If you’re not excited about the work and responsibility of teaching young learners, you may need to find another career path.

What do children need?

Children require nurturing, tenderness, and love. You need to be warm and genuine to gain their trust and attention. And you have to care about the whole person and understand the obstacles they might face, whether it’s a boo boo at play time, or a home life that’s less than perfect.

What do you need to teach a child with short attention spans?

Teaching this age group requires a comfort with arts and crafts, storytelling, exercise, and educational games. It’s important to keep things fresh and try new activities to keep your students and their short attention spans engaged.

Why is it important to be organized as a child?

Being well-organized will help you multitask, respond to competing needs at the same time, and have a structure in place that keeps things running smoothly. To hone your organizational skills, use whatever calendars, apps, and tools you can—so it makes your life—and those of your students—easy.

What do you need to be an early childhood educator?

Patience, communication, and a love of young children are just a few of the qualities you’ll need if you want to become an early childhood educator. Young children move a mile a minute, aren’t always the best listeners, and are learning just about everything as if it’s brand new. You might be the first adult outside of their family with whom they interact. That’s a lot of responsibility! But you may already possess many traits that will make you a great childhood educator. And the rewards are pretty awesome. Besides smiles, hugs, and adoration from your little fans, you can touch the future with the wisdom you impart, the moral lessons you teach, and the great example you set.

Can a little kid zip their shoes?

Little kids can’t tie their shoes or zip their jackets or reason the way children even just a few years older can. But they’re so darn cute! If you’re going to shape their future, you have to love the age group and all the very different personalities you’re likely to encounter.

Why is resourcefulness important in preschool?

Resourcefulness is also part of what makes a good preschool teacher or kindergarten teacher because the unfortunate reality is that many schools in the United States are underfunded. Too often, early childhood educators must rely on their own resourcefulness to make up for the lack of resources provided by their school or district. This can sometimes mean creating their own learning materials or fundraising to provide materials to their students.

Why is it important for preschool teachers to keep their skills?

That’s because new research and trends in early childhood ed are constantly being unveiled, and instructors and caregivers must stay abreast of these developments in the field. Thus, professional development often makes a good preschool teacher remain a good preschool teacher year after year.

Why is creativity important in early childhood education?

That’s why many well-known educators have referred to play as the work of the child. It’s also why creativity is one of the most pertinent characteristics of a great early childhood education teacher. Creativity is necessary for preschool and kindergarten teachers as they develop learning experiences for both engaging and instructive children. Whereas high school teachers may rely on a student’s self-discipline and study skills for mastery of the material, an early childhood educator must create opportunities for a child to engage with learning activities and materials. This can often require trial and error (as each child learns differently) and thinking outside of the box, so to speak.

What are the characteristics of an early childhood teacher?

Actually, this is a skill necessary for teachers of any grade level because lesson plans, grade reports, and attendance charts are a reality, no matter the age of the children. Organizational skills may be beneficial in an early childhood educational environment because of the potential chaos that can ensue when dozens of preschool-aged children are grouped in a classroom. The more organized the teacher is in such a setting, the more smoothly things will go in the classroom, including lesson plans, transitions, and classroom procedures.

What makes a good preschool teacher?

Moreover, part of what makes a good preschool teacher is the ability to teach children to behave in a caring and compassionate way towards others. Some may argue that character education is as important as any other academic skill taught in schools since it will leave an undeniable mark on our future as a society. If we want our kids to grow up to be sensitive and empathetic adults, then it’s crucial that we hire teachers who possess these qualities and can act as an example and role model in the classroom.

What is the ability to code switch?

Among the characteristics of a great early childhood education teacher related to communication is the ability to “code-switch.” Code-switching is a linguistic concept that refers to one’s ability to switch back and forth between dialects depending on the social context. This is a necessary skill for early childhood educators as they must transition from talking to colleagues, administrators, and parents to communicating with young children numerous times over the duration of their workdays.

Why is modeling adaptability important?

Modeling adaptability inspires children to be flexible.

What makes an educator successful?

The best early education meets children where they are. It can be messy, loud, random and it definitely colors outside the lines. The ability to be the calm in the middle of the storm and fully appreciate the learning that happens in chaotic moments is a must if you want to be an effective educator.

What is Yo Re Mi?

In Yo Re Mi classes, we use the Reggio Emilia inquiry-based approach to incorporate play into curriculum-based classroom activities. We allow the children’s ideas to be the vehicle for our journey — the way we’ll travel and explore in service of wellness goals and social-emotional learning.

What is an early childhood educator?

A great early childhood educator understands both the bliss and educational importance of free, unstructured or “true” play. They’re quick to get involved with children at their level (meaning not just on the floor, but following the children’s logic and understanding), to be silly and to offer their unique perspective into the mix.

Why do teachers use language?

They encourage parents to use language which encourages self-reflection, children to have their own opinions, draw their own conclusions, create their own social codes — and observe effort over praising results. Classroom teachers are in a unique position to positively affect the home environment.

What does a teacher say when a child says "Tell me more about that"?

Additionally, a teacher who hears a child’s opinion, and encourages with, “Tell me more about that!” essentially says, “I hear you. Your opinion matters. I want to hear what you have to say.”

What is the importance of crafted language of encouragement?

With crafted language of encouragement, the important documentation of each child's thoughts and contributions, and the mindful preparation of a safe space for exploration, the class can focus less on a final result and more on creating , trying , exploring, and observing.

What are the professional standards and competencies for early childhood educators?

Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators. Effective early childhood educators are critical for realizing the early childhood profession’s vision that each and every young child, birth through age 8, have equitable access to high-quality learning and care environments. As such, there is a core body ...

What is ECPC in education?

Through the Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC), with participation from NAEYC representatives, a cross walk of the Initial Practice-Based Professional Preparation Standards for Early Interventionists/Early Childhood Special Educators and the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators is available.

Does NAEYC accept copyrighted material?

NAEYC accepts requests for limited use of our copyrighted material. For permission to reprint, adapt, translate, or otherwise reuse and repurpose content from the final published document, review our guidelines at NAEYC.org/resources/permissions

What is developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood education?

Developmentally appropriate practice serves as the hallmark of the early childhood education profession. Fully achieving these guidelines and effectively promoting all young children’s development and learning depends on the establishment of a strong profession with which all early childhood educators, working across all settings, identify. Educators use the guidelines of the profession, including these guidelines, as they conduct themselves as members of the profession and serve as informed advocates for young children and their families as well as the profession itself. Standard 6 of the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators outlines specific expectations by which early childhood educators demonstrate their professionalism. Readers are referred to this statement for more specific information.

What is developmentally appropriate practice?

Developmentally appropriate practice serves as the hallmark of the early childhood education profession. Fully achieving these guidelines and effectively promoting all young children’s development and learning depends on the establishment of a strong profession with which all early childhood educators, working across all settings, identify.