I have been an educator, associate director, and director.
1. As to the parties, I always went to parties for the children in my care that I was invited to. It let the children know that I was a person outside of school. AS for meeting a father for dinner I would say absolutely NO. I feel this crosses a boundary.
2. I do feel that professional boundaries are most definitely a consideration in this field. I think accepting an invite to a party or doing private childcare after hours is perfectly acceptable. One on one with parents regarding their child outside of the work environment however could be misconstrued.
3. I personally have never encountered any issues. As an educator and assistant director, I did private care for many of my families after hours. We did not discuss happenings in the classroom unless it was a funny story to share.
4. I think that boundaries must be established in the very beginning and educators and parents both should be aware of what is accetable and what is not.
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Deandra Wimberley
Le Bonheur Comm Health & Well-Being
Memphis TN
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-07-2020 09:18 AM
From: Annie Moses
Subject: Professional Boundaries in ECE
In the just-published issue of Young Children, the Focus on Ethics column explores professional boundaries.
Professional boundaries are an integral part of the identity of every helping profession. They serve to draw the line between personal and professional relationships and differentiate between actions that are professionally appropriate and those that are unprofessional. They are intended to ensure that those who serve others in a professional capacity use their power well and fairly.
We want to hear from you! What are your thoughts on professional boundaries in early childhood education?
- What do you think a good early childhood educator should do in the following situations?
A family invites you to a party. Is it okay to go?
The father of a child in your class asks you to go out to dinner to discuss his child's progress. Is it okay to go out with him?
2. Do you think professional boundaries should be an important consideration for the field of early childhood education?
3. Have you encountered any boundary issues similar to those mentioned here. What were they?
4. What would be helpful to you in addressing boundary issues in your workplace?
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Annie Moses
Editor in Chief, Young Children
NAEYC
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