The first and most crucial ethical responsibility of an early childhood teacher is to do nothing that results in physical, psychological or other injury, including discriminating on the basis of race, sex, ability, or family status. Teachers must include everyone with relevant information when making decisions about a child. Methods must be adapted to each individual child's strengths. If no adaptation helps a child benefit from a particular program, the teacher must help the family figure out what to do next.
A teacher aware of any situation that is detrimental to children must inform the people who may change it. Teachers must know the signs of abuse and neglect and relevant laws, report any suspicion and help others to do so and work to improve the laws and agencies that protect children.
Early childhood educators must allow families access to their child at all times and keep them informed about everything affecting their child, from program philosophy to any accidents or risks. They must involve families in policy decisions when possible. When aware of a service that could benefit a child, the teacher is obligated to make the appropriate referral.
Teachers are forbidden to exploit their relationships with families for advantage or personal gain in any way, and must not get involved with family members in any way that might be detrimental to the child or take sides in any family conflict. A family's confidentiality and privacy must be respected.
Early childhood teachers must maintain the same standards of respect, non-discrimination and collaboration toward co-workers that are outlined in the code's first two sections, striving to support each other in their work and growth and create a positive working environment. Conduct that might harm children must be reported, but other differences must be resolved cooperatively and confidentially if possible.
Teachers must be scrupulously honest about the services they provide, work in only those positions that suit their qualifications and abilities and report and attempt to change any situations that have a negative impact on young children, whether these exist within their own agency or in the community at large. They must support policies and laws that protect children's well-being and rights.