Celebrate Provider Appreciation Day

teacher and interracial preschoolers at table with paints and papers in classroom

May 6th, 2022

Long before the global pandemic, early childhood teachers and providers were “essential.” They keep our children safe, nurture their social, emotional, and cognitive growth, and give them the foundation they need to be successful adults.

On May 6th, 2022, we invite you to join us in celebrating and thanking child care teachers and providers across the nation.

#ThankYouChildCare

Here’s Why Early Learning and Care Matters

Inequality starts at birth and the impact lasts a lifetime. A child’s brain develops faster from birth to age 5 than at any other time. Change those first five years, and you change everything!

Children who experience quality early learning and care:

  • Are 25% more likely to graduate high school
  • Are 4 times more likely to have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher
  • Earn up to 25% more in wages as an adult
  • Are less likely to be incarcerated as an adult
  • Improved nutrition and health – now and as an adult

Children who experience quality early learning and care:

  • Work on their physical development. Large motor skills (moving arms and legs) and small motor skills (moving fingers and hands) are developed through exploring different physical activities and equipment. Children play games, run, jump, climb, throw, and catch. They explore materials with different textures, they use paint, play dough, and crayons to create. By actively moving all parts of their bodies, they build healthy bones and muscles.
  • Learn how to get along with others. Teachers provide activities and interactions that help children with their social development. When children play and learn together, they learn how to cooperate, be respectful, take turns, compromise, and to resolve conflicts. All of these are skills they will use for the rest of their lives!
  • Recognize their own feelings and the feelings of others. Teachers facilitate interactions that allow children to understand others, show concern for others, and advocate for themselves and their own feelings. This emotional development works towards building a child’s self-esteem, which can lead to working hard and trying new things.
  • Improve their thinking skills (cognitive development). These are skills such as solving problems, thinking in complex ways, and making decisions. Young children have lots of questions, and teachers who allow them to explore, create, and discuss ideas help them to develop their brains, which in turn helps them to understand the world around them.

How Can I Participate?

  • Send a thank you card to share words of appreciation
  • Get together with other families to give a special gift
  • Submit a video testimonial thanking your provider
  • Have children draw pictures to send to providers
  • Buy a children’s book or something for the provider’s learning centers
  • Give your provider a paid day off, a raise or a bonus
  • Record a video of your child saying thank you to your child care provider

Ready to join the club? Start your free PreK.Club membership.

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