Setting professional boundaries is a complex and important part of your role in child development and youth programs. Professional boundaries are critical for establishing a positive work environment, maintaining strong partnerships with others, and supporting your well-being and those you are coaching or supervising. In this webinar, we identify what professional boundaries are and their importance to your role, discuss how to set workplace boundaries, and evaluate strategies for maintaining boundaries with colleagues and families, as well as with teens in youth programs. We also share ³Ô¹ÏÍø resources and highlight ways that you can communicate and model professional boundaries to ensure a positive and supportive program climate.
Webinar Slides
³Ô¹ÏÍø Lessons and Activities
- Preschool, Professionalism, Lesson 4, Learn
- Management, Professionalism, Lesson 1, Learn activity
- Management, Professionalism, Lesson 1, Explore activity
- Training & Curriculum Specialist, Professionalism, Lesson 4, Apply activity
- Training & Curriculum Specialist, Self & Cultural Understanding, Lesson 3, Learn
- Training & Curriculum Specialist, Self & Cultural Understanding, Lesson 3, Apply activity
- Focused Topic, Leadership Essentials, Lesson 2, Explore activity
- Focused Topic, Using the ³Ô¹ÏÍø: Coaching to Enhance Practice, Lesson 3, Apply activity
- Focused Topic, Valuing and Building Family Child Care, Lesson 4, Apply activity
- Live Leadership Webinar, Time Management & Organization in Leadership, February 2023
References & Resources
Dumas, T. L., & Sanchez-Burks, J. (2015). The professional, the personal, and the ideal worker: Pressures and objectives shaping the boundary between life domains. The Academy of Management Annals, 9(1), 803–843.
Feeney, S., Freeman, N., & Moravcik, E. (2020, December). Focus on ethics: Professional boundaries in early childhood education. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Gersz, M., King, D., & Moss, D. (2023). Healthy boundaries for helping professionals [Webinar]. The Ohio State University, College of Social Work.
Graham, J. R., & Shier, M. L. (2009). The social work profession and subjective well-being: The impact of a profession on overall subjective well-being. British Journal of Social Work, 40(5), 1553–1572.
Hardy, J. (2021, January 14). How to set clear work boundaries—and stick to them.
Indeed Editorial Team. (2023, August 31). 16 ways to set healthy boundaries at work. Indeed Career Guide.
Malin, N. (2000). Professionalism, boundaries and the workplace. Routledge.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). (2011). Code of ethical conduct: Supplement for early childhood program administrators.
New York State Justice Center. (2024). Professional Boundaries Training Course. Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.
Rabikrisson, A. (2023, August 22). Council post: Effective ways to build and maintain personal and professional boundaries. Forbes.
Sanok, J. (2022, April 14). A guide to setting better boundaries. Harvard Business Review.