Abstract In this paper, I propose a theoretical framework for understanding professional care in the context of Early Childhood and Care (ECEC). This proposal aims at further developing a cultural-historical wholeness approach to the central topic of professional care in ECEC. As inspirational source I explore the role of moral imagination and apply insights from moral philosophy in combination with cultural-historical wholeness approach to children's needs and development. I suggest to making a distinction between two main forms of caring corresponding to two different forms of moral imagination in caring well for children in ECEC: 1) Responsive caring, is the kind of care where the educators attend to children's needs for well-being in the here and now. In responsive caring moral imagination plays a role mainly in the shape of empathetic imagination. 2) Proactive caring is a strategic kind of caring for children where the educators attend to the child's motives, engagements and projects, collaborating with the child on transforming and expanding his/her participation possibilities in relationships and activities. This requires a future-oriented gaze at the child, and thus a different kind of moral imagination, based on extended anticipatory goals. Finally, I suggest that moral imagination has a central role to play also in developing and sustaining collective professional caring standards.

中文翻译：

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从整体的角度照顾ECEC的孩子——道德想象力的作用

摘要 在本文中，我提出了一个理论框架来理解早期儿童和护理 (ECEC) 背景下的专业护理。该提案旨在进一步发展针对 ECEC 专业护理中心主题的文化历史整体性方法。作为鼓舞人心的源泉，我探索了道德想象力的作用，并将道德哲学的见解与文化历史整体性方法相结合，以解决儿童的需求和发展。我建议区分两种主要的关怀形式，对应于两种不同形式的道德想象，在 ECEC 中照顾好孩子： 1）响应式关怀，是教育者关注儿童对幸福的需求的那种关怀。此时此地。在响应式关怀中，道德想象力主要以移情想象的形式发挥作用。2) 主动关怀是一种对儿童的战略性关怀，教育者关注儿童的动机、参与和项目，与儿童合作改变和扩大他/她参与人际关系和活动的可能性。这需要以未来为导向的目光注视孩子，因此需要一种基于扩展预期目标的不同类型的道德想象。最后，我建议道德想象力在发展和维持集体职业关怀标准方面也可以发挥核心作用。与孩子合作，改变和扩大他/她参与人际关系和活动的可能性。这需要以未来为导向的目光注视孩子，因此需要一种基于扩展预期目标的不同类型的道德想象。最后，我建议道德想象力在发展和维持集体职业关怀标准方面也可以发挥核心作用。与孩子合作，改变和扩大他/她参与人际关系和活动的可能性。这需要以未来为导向的目光注视孩子，因此需要一种基于扩展预期目标的不同类型的道德想象。最后，我建议道德想象力在发展和维持集体职业关怀标准方面也可以发挥核心作用。