“And the sprout must be cared for”: care as ethics and professional practice in Early Childhood Education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20435/serieestudos.v30i68.2028Keywords:
professional care, early childhood education and care, care ethicsAbstract
This theoretical essay explores the concept of care in the context of Early Childhood Education, highlighting its ethical nature. Conceiving care as the foundation for learning and well-being, philosophical contributions are synthesized to argue that high-quality care is not directed solely at meeting basic physical needs, but also involves emotional presence, recognition, and respect for the child. The article focuses on the differences between professional care and private care, addressing the necessary distinction between love and care. The dimensions of responsive and proactive care are also explored. The authors emphasize that caring well requires collaboration with families and knowledge about the social development situation of children aged 0 to 3, ensuring they are treated as subjects in interactions. By addressing professional care, the aim is to contribute to making care work more visible and valued, highlighting the urgency of advancing toward a properly theoretical-scientific conceptualization of care, overcoming practices based on common-sense notions in early childhood education institutions.
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