Preschool teacher's professional development in counselling parents

One of the new roles of the modern preschool teacher is the role of counselling parents in their daily parenting challenges. Such a role implies the existence of professional ethics, which includes conscious, systematic, and... [ view full abstract ]

One of the new roles of the modern preschool teacher is the role of counselling parents in their daily parenting challenges. Such a role implies the existence of professional ethics, which includes conscious, systematic, and accountable accessing of professional development. The aim of this study was to examine preschool teachers’ perception of professional development in the field of counselling parents. The study included five kindergarten teachers and it used the semi-structured interview on ethical issues in the process of counselling parents in the kindergarten. Qualitative methodology was used because of the possibility of gaining insight into personal views and experiences of respondents in the professional development for counselling parents.

                   The study included 10 preschool teachers. A semi-structured interview was used about the professional development at the personal and institutional level in counselling parents, and accompanying ethical issues.

                    Interviews were transcripted and coded according to the principle of thematic analysis. The codes were grouped into two thematic areas: (1) personal professional development in the promotion of ethical conduct in counselling parents and (2) the role of institutions in promoting and supporting professional development of preschool teachers for counselling parents.

                    Preschool teachers are generally aware that their continuing professional development is also their obligation and responsibility, and that it includes the field of counselling. Mostly, preschool teachers observe their profession as developmental and recognize their daily professional work as a process in which knowledge and skills are upgrading and changing. Also, they recognize the importance of the institution or its leader in the development of competencies. Guidelines are provided for improving the professional development of preschool teachers for counselling parents according to the expectations and the needs of preschool teachers.