Ethical response

Overview:

In this module, you have reviewed the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and what it means to act ethically in all aspects of early childhood regarding children, families, co-workers, and community relationships.

Assessment Instructions:

Select one of the ethical situations below and describe how you would use the Code to ethically address the situation. For your scenario, provide the parts of the Code that support your decisions/processes. 

Your scenario response should include a/an:

Description of the dilemma

Explanation as to why it is an ethical issue

Description of both sides of the conflict/issue.

Identification of what is, in your opinion, the best possible solution.

1. Explanation as to why this is the best solution based on the Code.
2. Prediction of the possible outcomes based on your solution.
3. Description of how you might respond to the possible outcomes.
4. SCENARIO 1: Infant/Toddler (Birth to 35 months)
5. A toddler in your program has been bitten by another child while fighting over the blocks in the block play area. You comfort the child who was bitten with a cold compress, and the child who bit was redirected and reminded that biting hurts his friends. The two children are kept separate during free playtime. When the mother arrives to pick up the child who was bitten, you explain the incident, provide her with the appropriate accident/incident report, and what you did to both comfort/treat her child and what was done to prevent further incidents. The mother becomes very angry and demands that you give her the name of the child who bit so she can contact the parents.
6. SCENARIO 2: Preschool (Ages 3-6 years)
7. You are the educator of a mixed age group of 3–5-year-olds. One family has requested that their five-year-old not take a nap since she will be going to kindergarten soon and will need to learn to make it through the day without a rest time. However, you have observed that the child still needs rest time to support her social-emotional temperament in the afternoons. You have provided the child with activities to do during nap time; however, she continues to fall asleep while doing them.

SCENARIO 3: Family Childcare (Mixed ages from Birth to 8 years)

In your family childcare, there are two boys and three girls ranging in age from 2 to 5-years-old. You have a dramatic play center full of many options of dress-up clothes and props for children to use their imagination. One of the boy’s fathers comes in one day while his son is wearing a dress and holding a baby, calling himself “mommy.” He demands that you keep his son from dressing “like a girl,” or he will remove his child from your program.

SCENARIO 4: Administrator/Leader

You are the director of a program with a specific policy outlined in the family handbook about serving only healthy foods and that birthday treats for in-class parties must be healthy. Several suggestions for providing healthy alternatives are listed in the family handbook. One of your preschool educators informs you that Tessa’s mom has brought chocolate cupcakes in for the children to share for her birthday. Tessa’s mom speaks very little English, and Tessa is so excited to share the cupcakes with her friends.