Ethical Dilemmas in Early Childhood

This assignment delves into the complex ethical issues present in early childhood education. It examines scenarios involving genetic testing, violence and abuse research, modes of death in pediatric patients, and the social construction of childhood. Students are tasked with analyzing these situations and proposing ethical solutions, highlighting the importance of responsible decision-making in this vulnerable stage of life.

Running head: HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
Three issues of early childhood
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note

1HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
The pre-school stage is considered as the early childhood in Australia. The
future credibility of student has been seeded in this stage and therefore, proper care is needed.
Certain issues have been generated in this stage regarding future development feasibility. A
strong and rich program has to be adopted in this stage and certain standards of quality are
required to be maintained in this stage. Many issues are there to represent the development of
the early childhood criteria of whom three have been identified in this case. The issues can be
categorised as construction of childhood, well being movement and early childhood and
ethics in early childhood (McLean, Sandall & Smith, 2016).
The first issue is based on the childhood construction. The period of childhood
is regarded as time of freedom where there is no fear of harsh experience of life. However,
experts are opined that proper care is needed in this stage; else, the future leadership ability of
the child will be shadowed. Montgomery has stated that the nurturing of a child depends on
the circumstances and the family well-being. April Mackay has pointed out some stages
regarding the child development construction and changes (Mackay et al., 2014).
The first stage highlighted by Mackay is from middle age era where the
children have to face same punishment as adults and they have to work as cheap labour. The
second stage is being considered as Victorian era where the child was divided into two
classes such wealthy class and starving class. Society did not interfere in the well-being of the
child rather neglect the starving class’ child as “spoilt brat”. Behavioural changes of the
society regarding the child have been observed in the third stage according to Turansky. The
society has learnt to separate the principle of punishment and discipline. In the later stage,
certain evil nature of the child has been observed and as per professor Sorin, these children
were involved in criminal activities. The fourth stage has concentrated on the period of child
development for the year of 1970 to 1980. At this stage, the children were trained with adult
education and cultural changes had been grown in them (Gordon, & Browne, 2013).

2HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
Mentality of the society for educating the child in their early childhood has grown in the
twentieth century. It is regarded as the last stage. A child was considered as the saviour and
the conception of commodity child has been abolished (Campbell et al., 2014).
Professor Ressa Sorin had worked on the child development process and raised
his voice against the involvement of child in political agenda. He had pointed out certain
issues like whether the treatment of every child in a similar manner is right or wrong (Sorin,
2014). Professor Sorin has redefined the construction stages and he support the role of the
parents in the child development process. He was of the opinion that the nature of the
treatment should be supportive. The main discussed topic regarding his thesis is that he
believed that even the children with criminal mentality should be treated morally. According
to his view, family dispute or society makes the child criminal and therefore, there is a
necessity to change the mentality of the society and family towards the children (Robinson,
2013).
Professor Sultana Ali Norozi (2016) has reviewed childhood construction
theory from social aspect and argued the matter within the hypothesis of childhood research.
According to her, the construction theory is differed from society to society and factors like
gender or belief. She has concentrated over the knowledge construction of a child and points
out the perfection that are needed to grow the mental condition of a child.

3HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
Source: (Thompson, 2018)
According to James Allison, a growth has been observed in case of sociological
interest of the childhood. He not only focuses on the sociological aspects, but concentrates on
the political, cultural and historical sides also. He made a division to the sociological model
such as pre-sociological and transitional model.
The second issue regarding the early childhood is the well being movement.
The standard of the people’s livelihood is being identified as the wellbeing. The index of
wellbeing is enhanced on meeting the personal and social goals. However, according to June
Statham, the definition and applicability of wellbeing in case of adult and the child is
different. The role of wellbeing in case of child development process is important. However,
there are certain challenges present in these cases. In the words of Hinkley, it is important to
comply with the cultural matters while working on the wellbeing of a child (Hinkley et al.,
2014). Cultural implication on the wellbeing has not been mentioned properly. Proper
documents are unavailable regarding the age, gender or disability of the children.
Professor Nansook Park had stated the strength of well being and concentrated
on the development of standard of childhood and various child related operations. However,
well being of a child is depended on certain stage of development such as physical
development, social development, emotional development, cognitive development,
communication development and learning development. According to the social scientists,
growth should not be mesh mash with physical development. Growth is a result of cell
division and it plays no role in the development of a child. Physical skill or fitness can be
regarded as physical development. Social development can be grown up in a child through
his or her family and the atmosphere around them. Emotional development helps a child to
get pleasure from a hale and hearty wellbeing. Apart from simple emotional expression, a

4HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
child has to learn the proper expression of trust, mistrust, shame, doubt and guilt. Every child
has certain cognitive elements that help them to develop their brain such as memory,
knowledge, intelligence, reasoning, thinking and logic. A child has to develop all the skills to
maintain a proper lifestyle in future. However, according to McDevitt (2013), society has
created certain implications on the cognitive theory and the awareness has gained by the
student on te basis of social harmonisation.
Environmental implication on a child is important in nature and it has been
observed that the independent nature of the environment encourage the child to stay same and
do their task independently. A child can improve his communication skill by adopt the
language method properly.
Angela Owen has explained the wellbeing process of the child in a systematic
manner. She concentrates on the overall welfare of a child. She wants the educator to
concentrate on the practical health and safety of the child (Wahlstrom & Owens, 2017). It has
been highlighted by the National Quality Standard that every child has a right to get
education and lead a safe life. Therefore, the wellbeing of the child needs to be promoted and
shared. The key point of the wellbeing is to provide good health option to the child. Angela
Owen also concentrates on the psychological wellbeing of the children. The educators should
try to attach with the children emotionally and they have to know the demands of the
children. If an interactive relation could be established in between the educator and the child,
mental stability and growth can be done in a systematic way. A secured and supportive
relationship will develop the level of self-confidence within a child (Gordon, & Browne,
2013).
On the other hand, Professor Cook and Davis concentrate on the mental
acceptability of the society for the wellbeing of a child. It is a recorded proof that the one of

5HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
the main obstacles regarding the childhood wellbeing is child abuse. The interference of the
family or the educator is not enough for the overall development (McLean, Sandall & Smith,
2016). The society has to take positive part to curb this. Certain matters should be taken into
consideration in this case such as the child protective service, mental health, law enforcement
and the health care protection.
According to the words of Angela Owen, educators are playing the most
significant role in case of child wellbeing and therefore, their mental conditions are required
to be stable (Wahlstrom & Owens, 2017). Brain development process depends on the mental
health of the child and therefore, the Australian government should invest for the mental
development of the children at the early childhood period.
The matter related to the kids is multidimensional. Therefore, the suggestion
regarding the kids should be carefully chalked out. Awareness is required regarding the
common risk factors of the children. Necessary responsibilities should have to adopt to secure
the wellbeing of the children. Sufficient environment should be created for the development
of the skills and effective support should be given to the child by coalition with the parents.
Ethics is the most important part of the human life. It is also known as moral
philosophy. It helps to bring a behavioural change in human being and therefore, application
of ethics is significant in nature (Fontana et al., 2015). The ethical responsibility of the
educators reflects pedagogical research and it should follow the principles of the United
Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Ethics plays an important role
regarding the well being of child. It should be bored into mind that the Code of Ethics is not
intended to change the way of nurturing the child, but to maintain certain ethical perceptions
along with the traditional approaches. The main thing of ethical learning is that it teaches how
to take decision on everyday’s action with respect. Ethical approaches help to maintain a

6HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
relationship with the parents or the community that is trustworthy in nature. It is based on the
principle of justice. According to Botkin, the main objective of the early childhood code of
ethics is to ensure the fact so that every child gets the opportunity to get proper education
(Botkin, 2016).
The Code of Ethics helps to build a respectful relationship between the child,
their parents and the educator. This process helps to develop the emotional character of the
child and essential for the wellbeing of the child. In Australia, the process was first time
introduced in the provinces of the Tasmania. It has been observed in certain cases that the
children become belligerent with their learning process and the situation can be termed as
scaffolding. This can be cured at the early childhood stage (Wightman, & Freeman, 2016). It
is the duty of the educator to teach the children certain ethics so that they can deal with the
situation in a respectful manner. Ethics are also important to develop a positive relationship.
If a child does not know how to talk with other and what are the ethical approaches that are
important to apply during any conversation or keeping relation, negative impression will be
created on the relationship.
However, the educators have to fulfil all the mandatory requirements regarding
the purpose and the families of the child should get involved in the process positively.
Engagement of the parents will help the overall upbringing of the child and this is also
helpful to build ethical perception within them.
It is the right of every child to lead a abuse free life. If any situation occurs
where his or her parents harass the child, fruitful initiative should be adopted. The first duty is
lying on the educator. If it has been observed that the family dispute affected the mentality
and character of the child, he has to inform his parents about the same and build a collateral
relation with the parents for the betterment of the child. Ethical learning can also prove to be

7HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
helpful for the child. However, there are different kinds of abuse. In case of the sexual abuse,
special care is needed and necessary action should be taken. Certain protective actions ought
to take (Downes, Kelly & Westmarland, 2014).
The parents have also faced certain problem regarding the nurturing the child in
case they are working man or woman. A study reveals that many parents avoid telling the
truth to his or her boss about their illness. This affects their relationship with the child too.
Necessary ethical steps should be taken to deal with the situation.

8HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
Reference:
Botkin, J. R. (2016). Ethical issues in pediatric genetic testing and screening. Current opinion
in pediatrics, 28(6), 700-704.
Campbell, F., Conti, G., Heckman, J. J., Moon, S. H., Pinto, R., Pungello, E., & Pan, Y.
(2014). Early childhood investments substantially boost adult
health. Science, 343(6178), 1478-1485.
Downes, J., Kelly, L., & Westmarland, N. (2014). Ethics in violence and abuse research-a
positive empowerment approach. Sociological Research Online, 19(1), 2.
Fontana, M. S., Farrell, C., Gauvin, F., Lacroix, J., & Janvier, A. (2013). Modes of death in
pediatrics: differences in the ethical approach in neonatal and pediatric
patients. The Journal of pediatrics, 162(6), 1107-1111.
Gordon, A. M., & Browne, K. W. (2013). Beginnings & beyond: Foundations in early
childhood education. Cengage learning.
Hinkley, T., Teychenne, M., Downing, K. L., Ball, K., Salmon, J., & Hesketh, K. D. (2014).
Early childhood physical activity, sedentary behaviors and psychosocial well-
being: a systematic review. Preventive medicine, 62, 182-192.
McLean, M., Sandall, S. R., & Smith, B. J. (2016). A history of early childhood special
education. In Handbook of early childhood special education (pp. 3-19).
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Robinson, K. H. (2013). Innocence, knowledge and the construction of childhood: The
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