Supporting Early Childhood Practitioners Through Relationship-Based, Reflective Supervision

Reflective supervision is a relationship-based practice that supports the professional development of early childhood practitioners. Reflective supervision helps practitioners cope with the intense feelings and stress that are generated when working with at-risk children and families. It allows them to focus on the purpose and goals of the program and maintain their role boundaries. This article describes the need for and purposes of reflective supervision in early childhood programs and lays out the stages of relationship formation between supervisors and practitioners. Through the use of a vignette, this article illustrates the process of reflective supervision within the context of a supervisory session.