Professionalism in Early Childhood Care and Education Focusing on Partnership with Parents

Abstract

The recent changes in Japanese society and family are thought to be the reason for the increasingly new and complex needs for supporting families. After the year two thousand, it has officially become ECE professionals' duty to support families in their districts. During this decade, child-rearing-support services in local communities have been widely expanded and now reconceptualization of professional relationships with parents is needed.

This paper considers the regulations, the standards on professional preparation, and ECE evaluation and accreditation materials focusing on ECE professionals' relationship with families. It also examines the current arguments concerning with family involvement and its effects on children. The research found that ECE professionalism focusing on relationships with families changed from not only supporting but also involving and building partnerships with parents.