Ethical Dilemma Discussion and Reflection

Running head: ETHICAL DILEMMA
Ethical Dilemma Discussion and Reflection
Student’s Name:
Institution:

ETHICAL DILEMMA 2
The Dilemma
Mayah who is two and a half years old always get tired and agitated after lunch. As per
the instructions from her parents, Mayah should not be allowed to sleep in the afternoon. The
reason is that it is going to be difficult for her to get sleep at night. As an educator and being
concerned with Mayah’s needs for sleep I allowed her to sleep, however, her parents found her
sleeping when they visited the institution, complained and reported the matter to the director.
Introduction
As per yourdictionary (2019), the ethical dilemma gets defined as situations where
choices have to be taken in between two options in which any of the alternatives presented does
not provide an ethically acceptable approach. The characteristics of an ethical dilemma as per
Allen (2019) are that ethical dilemma can be absolute or pure. This is where there is a situation
in which two or more e ethical standards are applicable to a case and thus creating conflict with
each other. The other characteristic is the approximate dilemma. This entails a complicated
situation requiring decision but is conflicting between laws, policies, and values (Allen. 2019).
The ethical dimensions in this involve three parties. The staff of the institution has a role to take
care of the child within the school and that what the child requires as per child’s rights must be
provided. The second dimension is the parents who have the responsibility of taking care of their
child. Irrespective of them being the parents does not take away the role of the staff as a teacher.
The second dimension is the child and children’s rights. Even though the parents require the
child to stay awake in the afternoon, the child’s rights cannot be overridden by the demands of
the parents.
The essay is going to discuss the rationale of the solution arrived at in the interest of
children’s rights, how the legal aspect made the dilemma for different roles, the impact of ERC

ETHICAL DILEMMA 3
in shaping part of the solution, professional considerations taken to shape part of the solution, the
adopted ethical principles, theories and in the end give a conclusion.
The Rational for the Solution
There is an emphasis by the Australian Government to concentrate on early years in
ensuring the wellbeing of children in the course of their developmental stages so that they
increase their productivity of the nation. The need for these changes is incognizant with the fact
that children’s early years are crucial as it determines their present as well as future health,
wellbeing, and growth (ACECQA, 2013). NSW Legislation (2011) outlines the standards that
have to be incorporated by child care institutions as well as childcare staff. There are numerous
standards set that each staff, as well as the organization, must observe. In this case, a focus is on
the safety and health of children while at the care centers (NSW Legislation, 2011). The standard
categorically highlights the practices of youngsters’ sleep and rest with a concentration on
welfare, health, as well as safety in meeting their individual needs. There must be ample space
for children to rest and sleep that is clean and standardized (Nair, Baltag, Bose, Boschi-Pinto,
Lambrechts & Mathai, 2015). The staff has a role of giving restful, active experiences, and
support children in making necessary decisions on their participation. The standards state the role
of the care center, the educator and that the children’s need for sleep in clearly articulated and the
concerned risk a penalty of $1000 if they do not act as stipulated. Additionally, the educator has
a responsibility to ensure that children get the need for rest and sleep while at the care center
(NSW Legislation, 2011). Atkinson (2018) asserts that the UNCRC clearly set the regulations for
the rights of children and posits that the children have a right to protection, development,
welfare, as well as civil rights. Hopkins (2006) augmented that children have their rights met
while at the hands of duty providers, the right to get shelter, moral treatment, and guarded