ABSTRACT
The international early childhood care and education (ECCE) community recognizes that it is the professionals who work day-to-day with young children and families who are the most important indicators of quality in child care (Manning et al., 2017; OECD, n.d.). Unfortunately, up to 27 per cent of ECCE professionals in the United States leave their positions or the field annually. We utilize early childhood professional well-being (ECPW) to address child care professionals’ underlying needs and motivations. In a United States context, we examined how ECPW relates to early childhood professionals’ perceptions of workplace experiences and how this influences job satisfaction and professional commitment (likelihood of remaining in one’s position or the field). Our primary goal is to help others consider how policies and practices can support well-being so that professionals may thrive, flourish, and feel fulfilled by their work with young children and families. We believe these concerns will resonate with readers from many nations.
