Showing appreciation to our educators doesn’t have to be confined to one day of the year, although Early Childhood Educators’ Day is an opportune time each year, to remember and acknowledge the time, effort and dedication of our early childhood educators. As well as the enormous impact they have in shaping lives every single day.

Here are 5 way your centre can encourage families to say thank you, on Early Childhood Educators’ Day or all year round:

1. Personalised Thank You Cards or Letters: Encourage families to help their children create personalised thank-you cards or letters. These can be as simple as a hand-drawn picture with a heartfelt message or a more elaborate letter detailing how much the educator's care and dedication mean to the child and their family.

Service providers can offer card-making materials in the classroom or provide templates that families can use at home. Examples include children sharing a favourite memory with their teacher or expressing gratitude for a specific way the educator has supported them.

2. Family-Organised Gift Baskets: Suggest that families work together to create thoughtful gift baskets for the educators. These could include items like homemade baked goods, teas, candles, or self-care products.

Another idea is to create a "classroom essentials" basket with resources, like books, art and craft items and new toys. Service providers can facilitate this by organising a sign-up sheet so that each family can contribute something different, ensuring the basket is varied and meaningful.

3. Group Appreciation Video: Invite families to contribute short video messages or photos of their children, expressing thanks to their educators. The service provider can compile these clips into a heartwarming video that can be shared with the educators on Early Childhood Educators' Day.

This could include children talking about what they love most about their teacher, showing off a favourite project they completed in class, or simply saying "thank you." The final video can be shared during a special event at the service or distributed via email or social media.

4. Social Media Shout-Outs: Encourage families to publicly recognise educators on social media by posting messages of appreciation. They can share a story or photo that highlights the positive impact the educators have had on their children, using relevant hashtags like #EarlyChildhoodEducatorsDay or #ThankYouTeachers. Service providers can create a specific hashtag for the center to help aggregate these posts and make it easier for educators to see the outpouring of gratitude from their community.

5. Participating in a "Thank You" Project: Organise a collective "Thank You" project, such as creating a mural, quilt, or bulletin board that showcases the appreciation from families and children. Each family can contribute a piece, such as a handprint, drawing, or note. that will be added to the larger display.

For example, a bulletin board could be titled "Our Educators, Our Heroes," with each child's contribution highlighting something they love about their teacher. This display can be put up in a prominent area of the service for everyone to see, creating a lasting tribute to the educators’ hard work and dedication.

Showing appreciation for educators is an essential part of fostering a supportive and positive early learning environment. By encouraging families to express their gratitude through personalised gestures, collaborative efforts, and creative projects, centres can help create a culture of recognition and respect. 

These acts of appreciation not only make educators feel valued but also strengthen the connection between families and the educational community, ultimately benefiting the children. This Early Childhood Educators' Day, let’s take the time to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our educators, who play such a vital role in shaping young minds.