Thanks for Early Learning Educators
A special day to celebrate our incredible early childhood educators.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
As parents, we feel grateful for our educators whenever we drop our children off at care, and Early Childhood Educators’ Day is the perfect opportunity to put this feeling into words!
This annual event recognises and celebrates the amazing people who support our little darlings to learn and develop while we’re busy with work, study and other grown-up pursuits.
This year, Early Childhood Educators’ Day is on Wednesday, 7 September, so now’s the time to think about how you’d like to give thanks to your excellent educators.
They’ll definitely appreciate a few sincere words when you see them, but if you’d like to put pen to paper (or sticky tape to wrapping paper), here are 5 different ways to show your gratitude for all they do:
1. Write an acrostic poem
This sounds technical, but it’s actually really easy!
You just need to take the letters of your educator’s name and come up with some wonderful ways to describe them, with lots of help from your little one.
For example, if your educator is called Karen, your acrostic poem could be:
- Kind to everyone
- Always makes me giggle
- Reads the best stories
- Extra bouncy hair
- Nice to the worms in the worm farm!
This poem will fit well on the front of a DIY card, with a ‘Thanks for everything!’ message inside, or you can think BIG and make an acrostic poster, using all the colours.
2. Give your educator a special plant
Flowers are beautiful (and definitely feel free to buy them a bouquet or pick-your-own blooms), but another idea is to give your educator the gift that keeps on growing.
Moth orchids and flamingo flowers don’t need much water and look great even when they’re not flowering, and an edible plant is another option.
Inexpensive aromatics, like mint and basil work well in a pot. Strawberries look sweet tied with a red ribbon. And finger limes (aka citrus caviar) add some beautiful bush food flavour to your educator’s home life.
3. Take part in a group project
If there’s an Appreciation Wall or Tree happening at your service, then make sure you add a message.
Also, if you’re friendly with a few childcare families, you might like to create a thoughtful photo spread together, with your children holding up one letter each to spell out ‘THANKS” (or “THANK YOU SO MUCH!” if you have lots of kids to call on).
This photo shoot is a great excuse for a playdate, and if it’s not possible to get together in person, you can always take individual pics and stick them together to make a brilliant banner.
4. Follow your educator’s interests
If you know your educator’s taste in music, books, cosmetics, food or drink, a personalised present (or happy-go-lucky gift card) is a great choice.
It’s also nice to support local businesses and Australian artisans, so you might like to give your educator something that’s been made with care (like a small box of luxe chocolates or a special ceramic keep cup).
Alternatively, you and a few other parents may wish to shout your educator a meal at a local establishment or chip in for another cheerful experience.
And because it’s the thought that counts (not the cash you spend), a kid-made bookmark or bottle of petal perfume will also be very welcome.
5. Get involved in your service’s celebrations
Many services have fun events planned around Early Childhood Educators’ Day, and if you have time to attend, your presence will be a present in itself!
Don’t worry if you can’t share in the festivities, though.
You can always share some delicacies instead (hello red velvet cupcakes!) and a few words of thanks when you drop off or collect your child.
You also support your educators by recognising their right to strike
Early learning educators across Australia were on the front line during the pandemic as essential workers who worked tirelessly to keep early learning services open.
National action is planned for 7 September, 2022, with educators calling for positive reform of the early education sector.
This national action is not just about pay and conditions, it is about those who work in the early learning sector as educators being recognised as the professional they are educating our most vulnerable children in the crucial first five years of their development.
Whether your educators are at work on Early Childhood Educators’ Day, or on the street, this is a day to value their contributions and celebrate everything they do for our children, families and their communities.
Thank you, educators!
