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Celebrating the Care in Early Care and Education
May 10, 2021
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
-Aristotle
-Aristotle
Dear Exchange Community,
Thank you to so many who shared your thoughts about President Joe Biden’s address to Congress where he talked about the importance of the early childhood field. Your comments reaffirmed my belief that the majority of early childhood professionals are committed, caring people, with children’s best interests at the heart of their work. So many of you addressed the issue of what our work should be called – childcare, early care and education, early child development, preschool. (Most of you did not want it to be called daycare.)
It’s interesting that Exchange Press has just published a new book, Illuminating Care: The Pedagogy and Practice of Care in Early Childhood Communities, where author Carol Garboden Murray explores caregiving as a vital component of education and child development. Carol discusses the concept of care as an essential building block of human community and society. Indeed, she makes the point that in the early years, care and education cannot be separated. Care is education, she says, explaining that celebrating a culture of caring and considering care as a part of reflective practice elevates the experience of teaching in the early years.
I’ve been reflecting so much on Carol’s important concepts. It occurs to me that we, who bring the elegantly linked gifts of care and education to children, have a responsibility to celebrate, with pride, the entirety of our work, and to help others really understand what we do.
Let’s keep the conversation going. Please share your thoughts, in the comments, about how we name what we do. And how do you feel about the concept of elevating and celebrating care?
As always, we are so grateful to be a part of such an important field.
Warmly,
Nancy Rosenow,
Exchange Publisher,
on behalf of our entire Exchange team
P.S. Here’s an opportunity to celebrate nurturing work at a Nature Explore Live Online Workshop:
Supporting Infants and Toddlers
Infuse nature into daily environments and routines for our youngest children
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
6 - 8 p.m. Central Time (7pm Eastern, 5 pm Mountain, 4 pm Pacific)
$35.00 per person
Thank you to so many who shared your thoughts about President Joe Biden’s address to Congress where he talked about the importance of the early childhood field. Your comments reaffirmed my belief that the majority of early childhood professionals are committed, caring people, with children’s best interests at the heart of their work. So many of you addressed the issue of what our work should be called – childcare, early care and education, early child development, preschool. (Most of you did not want it to be called daycare.)
It’s interesting that Exchange Press has just published a new book, Illuminating Care: The Pedagogy and Practice of Care in Early Childhood Communities, where author Carol Garboden Murray explores caregiving as a vital component of education and child development. Carol discusses the concept of care as an essential building block of human community and society. Indeed, she makes the point that in the early years, care and education cannot be separated. Care is education, she says, explaining that celebrating a culture of caring and considering care as a part of reflective practice elevates the experience of teaching in the early years.
I’ve been reflecting so much on Carol’s important concepts. It occurs to me that we, who bring the elegantly linked gifts of care and education to children, have a responsibility to celebrate, with pride, the entirety of our work, and to help others really understand what we do.
Let’s keep the conversation going. Please share your thoughts, in the comments, about how we name what we do. And how do you feel about the concept of elevating and celebrating care?
As always, we are so grateful to be a part of such an important field.
Warmly,
Nancy Rosenow,
Exchange Publisher,
on behalf of our entire Exchange team
P.S. Here’s an opportunity to celebrate nurturing work at a Nature Explore Live Online Workshop:
Supporting Infants and Toddlers
Infuse nature into daily environments and routines for our youngest children
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
6 - 8 p.m. Central Time (7pm Eastern, 5 pm Mountain, 4 pm Pacific)
$35.00 per person
The Pedagogy and Practice of Care in Early Childhood Communities |
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Comments (9)
Displaying All 9 CommentsUCI Extended Day Center
Irvine, California, United States
I was disheartened when I heard Joe Biden (who I am a staunch supporter of) refer to early care and education as "daycare." As the director of a child care center and an adjunct faculty member teaching future early care and education professionals, I often talk about the way that we label our profession. WORDS MATTER. We are not providing care to a DAY but to a child, just as we are not teaching a SCHOOL, we are teaching children (I dislike the term "schoolteacher" for the same reason as "daycare"). We can be our own worst enemies in this field by not standing up for ourselves, making sure that we are college-educated, and continuing to stay current in the field. The way that we will elevate our profession is by educating ourselves so that we can educate parents, lawmakers, and the community about the importance of the work that we do. I am grateful to Exchange for providing a platform for this type of discussion, which is sorely needed during this time.
Self employed
Dhaka, Bangladesh
I would like to name this 'Early learning support'.
United States
Thanks to all for your thoughtful comments. And Chris, I so appreciate your kind words for me. I absolutely remember you and have been following and admiring your great work!
Dimensions
Lincoln, NE, United States
Pearl, Thank you for the comment and work you've done in ECE!
Whirled Peas, love the name :). Thank you for the comment. You are right, the language is new to a lot of people. It will take time to change that but very glad we are getting recognition!
Robin, yes they do! thank you.
Amy, yes! The foundation we build is so important.
Christine, I will not speak for Nancy but I cannot agree with you more :). As someone who gets to work with Nancy, that kind of leadership and care has gotten so many of us through this pandemic. What a great reminder for all of us to celebrate ourselves more.
-Tiffany at Exchange Press
Retired Early Childhood Professional
Cliffside Park, New Jersey, United States
I am now retired from a field that all of us cherish--early childhood education. Over the past few months, I have been submitting Letters to the Editor of the NY Times about the problem of the all-too-low salaries of child care center staff. None of which have reached publication. So I was extremely glad when that newspaper finally published an article that addressed this important issue. Also Elisabeth Warren mentioned the salaries of child care center staff We're getting there--hopefully.
WP
Altamonte Springs, FL, United States
I wanted to add that I was listening to the news just yesterday ... and the news anchor used the terms - THE ECONOMY OF CARE and CARE INFRASTRUCTURE when talking about the new bills before Congress.
I've been doing this work for decades ... and it is music to my ears :)
Care work has gone underpaid, under-appreciated, and largely unnoticed for as long as I can remember. People may not get all the words right at first, but I am glad that it is finally being talked about :)
YWCA Hartford Region
Hartford, CT, United States
I agree that care can and must be a part of early Education. Our littlest people need both in order to learn and grow!
Kingswood Christian Preschool
Crozet, VA, United States
As I had shared with commenting on the previous article that was addressed, what we do is a build the foundation or scaffold for learning. We are preparing them for the next stage in their education. With us we have the opportunity to teach through care creating that strong foundation needed when they move into elementary school. If more people could see it this way hopefully the push for academics in early childhood will diminish and the work building the whole child can be celebrated.
Heritage Southwest ISD
Cassopolis, MI, United States
Good morning, Nancy.
I hope you remember me from our time together with the Nature Explore TOT. :)
I simply wanted to reflect on today and my realization that your consistent, caring voice each day through Exchange Everyday has helped me get through the pandemic. When things seemed to get really small and problems appeared insurmountable, there you were to remind me of a bigger purpose and a better self.
We don’t thank each other enough. Today, I celebrate YOU, your leadership during a chaotic time in history and your gentle investment in people.
My best to you, Nancy. I hope you and John are well. Grateful for your presence in my life.
Chris
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