3 Great Ways to Celebrate Early Childhood Professionals during Teacher Appreciation Week!

As Teacher Appreciation Week (the first full week of May) approaches, it's time to recognize and celebrate the hard work and dedication of early childhood professionals. These educators play a crucial role in shaping the minds and futures of young children, and their efforts deserve to be acknowledged and appreciated. Here are three great ways to celebrate early childhood professionals during Teacher Appreciation Week:

Host a Recognition Event

One of the best ways to show your appreciation for early childhood professionals is to host a recognition event in their honor. This event could be a luncheon, dinner, or even a virtual gathering where you can recognize and celebrate their achievements. During the event, you can highlight the teachers' commitment to their profession, their contributions to children's lives, and their impact on the community.

You can also provide them with a certificate of appreciation or a small token of gratitude like a personalized coffee mug or a gift card. By organizing an event specifically for early childhood professionals, you'll show them that their work is valued and that their contributions to society are significant.

Share Stories and Thank You Notes

Another way to celebrate early childhood professionals is to collect stories and thank you notes from families and children who have benefited from their work. Compile them into a book or a video that can be shared with the teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. These stories and notes will help to remind the teachers of the positive impact they have on their students' lives, and will give them a sense of fulfillment and motivation to continue their work.

In addition to sharing these stories and notes, encourage parents and children to reach out to the teachers directly to express their appreciation. A simple thank you note or email can go a long way in making teachers feel valued and appreciated.

Provide Professional Learning Opportunities

Early childhood professionals are always looking for ways to improve their skills and stay up-to-date with the latest teaching methods. Providing them with professional development opportunities is a great way to show your appreciation for their work and commitment to their profession. Workshops, webinars, or even a resource book are all excellent ways to share knowledge and skills.

Here are a few suggestions of resource books to share during Teacher Appreciation Week:

1. Never, Ever Serve Sugary Snacks on Rainy Days...and Other Words of Wisdom for Teachers of Young Children.  This warm and witty collection of advice by veteran educator Shirley Raines, EdD is filled with tips sure to bring a smile to any teacher's face. Some of the colorful quotes include:

• "Buy tissues by the dozens. Buy crayons and markers by the gross. The more crayons and markers you have, the fewer tissues you need."
• "Ask your colleagues for advice. Try it and thank your lucky stars you have colleagues who are friends."

2. Good Morning, Children: My First Years in Early Childhood Education. Based on her popular Pre-K Now blog, Sophia Pappas’ book provides an up-close and personal view of the challenges and successes of a beginning teacher. In chronicling the successes and failures of her first years as an early childhood educator, Ms. Pappas, a veteran of the Teach For America education program, covers a range of topics that both new and experienced educators face in the early childhood classroom. 

3. (Almost) Everything You Need to Know About Early Childhood Education. Veteran teacher Judy Fujawa distills over two decades of experience in her warm, witty book of lists. Filled with the imminently practical (Creative Gift Ideas, Things to Do With Boxes, Supplies or Materials That Encourage Children to Be Creative) to the philosophic (How Children Learn, Answers to: Why Read to My Child?) to the hilarious (The "F" Words Children Are Allowed to Use, Things Found in Children's Pockets), these lists cover nearly everything one needs to know to work with and raise young children.

In conclusion, early childhood professionals play a vital role in the education and development of young children. Celebrating their hard work and dedication during Teacher Appreciation Week is an excellent way to show your appreciation for their efforts. Whether you host a recognition event, share stories and thank you notes, or provide professional development opportunities, any gesture of gratitude will go a long way in making these educators feel valued and appreciated.

Author(s)Sophia E. Pappas, Judy Fujawa, Shirley Raines