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Exploring the concept of professional love, Carol Garboden Murray writes, "As early childhood educators, we understand that a powerful element of our work with children is in supporting their own reciprocal capacity for love and belonging… To be a part of this vital attachment is a wonderful privilege and, arguably, one of the most important aspects of our professional roles."

By analyzing a variety of sources, Yi-Huang Shih has summarized, "how love-based relationships may be developed between preschool teachers and young children in early childhood education. Among the approaches uncovered:

1. fostering love in preschool teachers’ hearts;
2. creating loving relationships between preschool teachers and young children;
3. providing opportunities for young children to practice loving behaviour;
4. giving young children freedom;
5. maintaining an open dialogue;
6. emphasising democratic participation;
7. avoiding indoctrination;
8. respecting young children’s experiences and discoveries;
9. allowing young children to make choices
10. understanding young children as individuals."

Or, as Garboden Murray asks: "How can we spend hour after hour, day after day, week after week changing children’s diapers, feeding them lunch, and rocking them to sleep, without falling in love with them?"

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