The importance of Early Childhood professions - Essay Example

Century-old studies of psychologists and researchers and theorists like Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson and Jean Piaget, served as catalysts to the evolution of professions that specifically cater to the needs of infants, toddlers and young children. In addition to the rise in the demand of professionals in childhood settings, there have been trainings and programs that were designed to meet the needs of such professionals in order to perform their jobs well. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is one of the organizations that cater to the needs of individuals seeking to be in an early childhood profession.

It has seen the necessity of training children as early as infancy and has gathered people with a passion to reach out to parents and children. Its main objectives are to facilitate professional development of individuals working for and with young children of zero to eight years and to improve public understanding and support for high quality early childhood programs (naeyc.org, 1993). For this reason, there arose a number of programs that were improved as the years passed, to adjust to the changing needs of families and children.

Whether the programs offered were established by private or government entities, the main goal had been to provide quality assured services to both parents and children in the crucial learning stages of the children. Child care, a job understandably from the name itself, involves a professional in the care of children. This job often requires a full day schedule that is synchronized with the parents’ working schedules to enable them to do their own jobs. Facility licensures are given to child care centers, provided by state departments of human services as the regulating body.

Following the requirements, centers should prepare their staff and qualify them through trainings on how to handle clients. However, since child care takes just common sense to perform one’s job, the trainings are not strictly implemented. Rather, applicants with no previous experience are hired and learn important lessons as they work from day to day. Nevertheless, institutions should have the initiative to hire trained staff or train their own employees to further the quality of their services.

This will not only satisfy clients but will also make a lasting impression that could make the institution last. Ellen Frede emphasized the result of studies that have found that staff members with more formal schooling or specialized training are more attentive and nurturing in their behavior toward children (1995), which is sought by most parents. In the case of family child care homes, registration as required by law should be followed (naeyc.org). Child caregivers basically attend to he basic needs of the children.

For instance, they should feed and let them rest at the right time. Bathing and clothing the children can also be a part of their duties and responsibilities when the circumstances demand so. During waking hours, it is the responsibility of the child care provider to ensure the child’s security especially during play. Another profession to look at in this particular setting is the early childhood education (ECE). It is assumed to promote children’s social and educational development. This program is not like the child care program which requires a full d