Skills and

Responsibilities
of Early
Childhood
Professionals
Objectives 2.01 and 2.02

What skills do you need to

be able to work with
young children?

Used with permission, Southern Alamance High

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

What responsibilities do
people who work with
young children have?

Used with permission, Clyde Erwin High

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

How are these skills and

responsibilities related?

Used with permission, Hobbton High

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

Those who have the

skills and assume the
responsibilities of
working with young
children are called

early childhood
professionals.
A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R
esponsibilities

How can

YOU become an

early childhood
professional?

The first step is to become

familiar with the skills and
responsibilities required . . .

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

Skills Needed

by Early Childhood Professionals

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Basic communication
Math
Thinking
Life
Interpersonal
Leadership
Resource management
Professional communication
A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R
esponsibilities

1. Basic
communication skills
Speaking
Writing
Reading
Listening
Body language
Used with permission, Albemarle High

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

2. Math skills
Adding
Subtracting
Multiplying
Dividing
Used with permission, Albemarle High

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

3. Thinking skills
Thinking critically
Making decisions
Solving problems
Used with permission, Southern Alamance High

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

10

4. Life Skills
(Partnership for 21st Century Skills, US Department of
Education, 2006)

Leadership

Personal productivity

Ethics

Personal responsibility

Accountability

People skills

Adaptability

Self-direction
Social responsibility

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

11

5. Interpersonal Skills
(SCANS Report, Secretarys Commission on Achieving
Necessary Skills, US Dept. of Labor, 1992)

Participating as a member of a team

Teaching others
Serving clients, customers
Exercising leadership
Working with cultural diversity

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

12

6. Leadership skills
Responsibility
Integrity
Vision
Perseverance
Consideration
Team focus
Used with permission, Clyde A. Erwin High

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

13

7. Resource management
skills
Managing people
Acquiring and sharing information
Using technology effectively
Using time wisely
Using energy wisely
Managing money
Managing equipment and supplies

Used with permission, Hobbton High

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

14

8. Professional
communication skills
Communicating goals and
philosophy
Public relations
Family communications
Staff communications and
teamwork
Recording information

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

15

8. Professional dress
is very important.
Practical
Functional
Appropriate
Good taste

Used with permission, Albemarle High

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

16

Think About It . . .
These 8 sets of skills are needed in
order to meet the responsibilities of
working with young children.
Pay close attention to the similarities
between these skills and the primary
responsibilities of those who work
with children. Which skills do you see
reflected in the responsibilities?

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

17

Primary Responsibilities
of Early Childhood Professionals

1. Know how children grow and

develop
2. Plan developmentally
appropriate curricula
3. Prepare the environment
4. Communicate effectively
5. Get along with co-workers
6. Manage time wisely
7. Continue to learn
A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R
esponsibilities

18

1. Know how children grow

and develop

Used with permission, Wakefield High

Used with permission, Clyde A. Erwin High

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

19

2. Plan developmentally
appropriate curricula

Used with permission, C High

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

20

3. Prepare the environment

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

21

4. Communicate effectively

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

22

5. Get along with

co-workers

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

23

6. Manage time wisely

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

24

7. Continue to learn

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

25

Ethical Responsibilities
of Early Childhood Professionals

1.
2.
3.
4.

To children
To families
To colleagues
To community and society

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

26

Ethical Responsibilities
to Children

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

27

1. Do not harm children

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

28

2. Involve those with relevant

knowledge in decisions about children

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

29

3. Communicate concerns about

children in a positive way

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

30

4. Be familiar with symptoms of

child abuse and know procedures
for addressing

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

31

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

32

1. Not to deny family

members access to
classroom

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

33

2. Inform families of philosophy,

policies, and personnel
qualifications

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

34

3. Keep fully informed of

research projects involving
their children and gain
consent

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

35

4. Not to use relationship with

family for personal advantage

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

36

5. Maintain confidentiality and

the familys right to privacy

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

37

Ethical Responsibilities
to Colleagues

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

38

1. Inform co-workers first of

concerns and attempt to resolve

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

39

2. When disagreeing with program

policies, first attempt to effect
change within the organization

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

40

3. Inform employees who do not

meet program standards of concerns
and assist in making improvements

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

41

4. Base hiring and promotion

solely on records of
accomplishment and ability

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

42

Ethical Responsibilities
to Community and Society

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

43

1. Communicate openly and

truthfully about the nature and
extent of services provided

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

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2. Cooperate with other

professionals who work with
children and families

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

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3. Refrain from participating in

practices that violate laws and
regulations that protect children

Used with permission, Wakefield High

A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R

esponsibilities

46

Are you an

early
childhood
professional?
A - 2.01 & 2.02 - Skills & R
esponsibilities

47