Who and what defines professionalism? As emerging leaders in the field, it will be your role to set the standard - the bar - for those who follow in your footsteps. As with children, modeling for each other is a necessity. However, professionalism is often defined differently based on an individual's personal beliefs and values and/or the expectations of the program in which you work. It is important to find a way as a field to define professionalism for all.

• Review the information on professionalism in the following documents:
• The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)'sDevelopmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement
• The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)'sCode of Ethical Conduct
• Search for at least one article (published within the last five years) that discusses professionalism in the field.
• Incorporating the information from your research, create an original definition of professionalism in the Early Childhood Field. Rather, create a definition of your own.