With Early Childhood Educators’ Day coming up on September 4th, it’s the perfect time to show our appreciation for the amazing work our early childhood educators do.

Celebrating educators in ways that (actually!) matter can also be a great way to boost motivation and engagement among your team. The best way to celebrate Educators is to create a culture that allows them to work to their strengths and follow their passions.  

So, at Farran Street Education, we have put together 10 fantastic ideas on how to recognise and celebrate educators in meaningful ways. Early Childhood Educators’ Day is a great day to announce these initiatives!

1) Personal interest budget

As a manager, consider allocating a $5,000 Personal Interest Budget for your educators to specialise in an area that aligns with both their passions and your services’ goals. Whether it’s sustainability, STEM, or reconciliation, this investment not only enhances their expertise but also boosts their engagement and contribution to the team. By supporting their professional growth, you’re fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

2) Role reversal

Encourage cross-skilling and fresh perspectives by implementing a Role Reversal initiative. Allow your educators to spend a day in a different room, observing and listing 10 remarkable practices they see. This exercise not only helps them appreciate their colleagues’ strengths but also sparks ideas they can bring back to their own room. It’s a powerful way to build stronger inter-room relationships and encourage a collaborative culture within your team.

3) Weekly wellbeing checks

As a leader, showing you care about your team’s well-being is essential. Implement Weekly Wellbeing Checks—quick 5-minute sessions that offer your educators a chance to connect, share, and recharge. To further support their mental health, consider granting an additional 2 mental health days per year. This simple yet impactful practice helps maintain a healthy, motivated, and resilient team.

4) Munch down Mondays

Start the week on a high note by organising Munch Down Mondays—a work-sponsored lunch that brings your team together every Monday. It’s more than just a meal; it’s an opportunity to strengthen bonds, share ideas, and kick off the week with a positive and united spirit. Maybe you can start the week with a visit from a juice truck, ice cream van or coffee cart.

5) Step up and lead: squad or community of practice

Get ready to inspire and empower your educators by giving them the chance to step up and lead! Choose a dynamic theme that resonates with your team—whether it’s inclusive practices, innovative behaviour strategies, or boosting family engagement—and invite one of your educators to take the reins. This isn’t just any leadership role; it’s an opportunity to ignite passion and drive within a small, focused group of peers.

6) Supervision chart

Transform supervision into an exciting challenge with Supervision Challenge Charts! These are designed to keep your staff sharp and engaged while they’re with the children. Each time they supervise, they’re prompted to record which children they engaged with, the thought-provoking questions they asked, and how they expanded on the children’s interests. It’s all about pushing boundaries, sparking curiosity, and making every interaction count.

7) Family first raffle

Celebrate and reinforce your service philosophy with the Family First Raffle. At the start of each term, provide your educators with a set of raffle tickets. Every time you observe an educator going above and beyond to prioritise the needs of a family, reward them with one of your raffle tickets. At the end of the term, hold a Family First Raffle where the lucky winner receives an extra day of annual leave. This initiative not only encourages staff to align their actions with your service philosophy but also adds an element of fun and recognition to your team’s efforts.

8) Protected programming time

Celebrate your educators by putting their needs first with Protected Programming Time. This is sacred time, scheduled and uninterrupted, no matter what. It’s a commitment to give your team the focus and freedom they need to create amazing, thoughtful programs that inspire learning.

9) Gratitude week

Kick off the week by secretly assigning each staff member a colleague to appreciate. Throughout the week, encourage your team to perform random acts of kindness for their assigned person, all while keeping their identity a secret. Whether it’s leaving flowers, sharing a heartfelt note, or offering a helping hand, the possibilities are endless! To add an element of fun, challenge the team to mislead others by doing something nice for someone who isn’t their chosen person. As a manager, this is a fantastic way to foster a supportive and positive workplace atmosphere, where everyone feels valued and appreciated.

10) Help your team change the world!

 Inspire your team to be a force for good by partnering with Habitat for Humanity! This isn’t just a volunteer opportunity; it’s a chance for your service to make a tangible impact on the lives of families in need. Whether it’s helping to build homes, participating in fundraising events, or supporting local projects, your team will be at the forefront of creating positive change in your community.

Kindalin Early Childhood Learning Centres recently embarked on a remarkable journey that saw three of their Directors travel to Fiji to build homes with Habitat for Humanity. What began as a simple idea to give back to the global community quickly blossomed into a learning experience for everyone involved.

This initiative wasn’t just about lending a helping hand; it became a reflective educational opportunity for the children at Kindalin. As the Directors prepared for their trip, the children engaged in learning about Fijian culture and traditions. This exploration opened up discussions about the diverse ways people live around the world and the importance of kindness and generosity in our daily lives. Through stories, activities, and thoughtful conversations, the children developed a deeper understanding of global citizenship and empathy.

But the impact didn’t stop there. Families within the Kindalin community also got involved, contributing to fundraising efforts and supporting the cause in various ways. This collective effort brought the entire community closer together.

For the Directors who participated, this journey was truly the experience of a lifetime. They not only had the privilege of helping to build homes for families in need but also returned with a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration that they’ve since brought back to their centres. Their stories and photos from the trip have sparked a wave of enthusiasm and inspiration among the children, parents, and staff alike.

Check out the photos from their journey here, and follow their ongoing story on Facebook to see how this experience continues to inspire and uplift the Kindalin community.