The Construction of a New Profession

Across Europe, increased professionalization in childcare is high on the agenda. There is a changing view on childcare, from ‘taking care of’ children, as a temporary replacement for the working mother, to childcare as an integral part of a broader educational sector. One of the signs here is the increased attention for co-educating, partnerships with parents. Today, we see changes in professions for the youngest children in many countries.

What is professionalism in ECEC?

This book contains a fascinating account of countries and people searching for democratic professionalism. Video narratives and testimonies from the ‘70ies until now show how practitioners, as actors of change and together with other, create new content to their profession. The new ECEC practitioner is a ‘warm’ professional, emotionally involved with parents and children. This warm professional is at the core of this book.