On May 6, the Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Council, Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral will join the National Recognition of Child Care Providers in celebrating Provider Appreciation Day. – an annual celebration that recognizes the work of child care providers, teachers and caregivers of young children.
“Home child care providers play an important role in nurturing and shaping the lives of young children,” said Lanette Dumas, Executive Director of the National Home Child Care Association. “As educators, they cultivate a warm and loving environment in their homes to prepare children for school and lifelong success, often without recognition for the work they do.”
Throughout the pandemic, most child care providers and educators have remained open to working parents in need of child care. Unfortunately, suppliers have been hit hard personally and economically due to COVID-19, putting them and their own families at risk to stay in business.
We encourage you to participate in recognizing the important work of child care providers, Iowa’s essential workforce, and saying “thank you” for making a difference in children’s lives. Child care gives families the opportunity to go to work, children to learn, businesses to function and the economy to grow. Child care providers are an essential workforce.
Families are encouraged to thank local child care providers by:
• bring treats for babysitting
• send flowers
• handwritten notes or drawings by your child
• certificates for pampering and relaxation
• donate new toys or learning materials
• add new books to their library
• Get together with other families to give a special gift
Ideas for business
• Offer special discount or coupon for heroes
• Offer a gift or a gift card
• Hang a poster or sign on the window or door thanking suppliers
• Create gift baskets
• Share a “Thank You” through a letter, email or social media post
• Donate supplies/groceries for a child care program or classroom
• Give gifts to pamper or pamper yourself
• Honor providers as essential workers
• Adopt/sponsor a child care program
Families, organizations, businesses and civic leaders are encouraged to recognize them publicly on social media using the hashtag #ThankYouChildCare and #ProviderAppreciationDay.
The Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Region Council is proud to support child care providers through consulting services, quality improvement incentives, scholarships, CPR and first aid and training. THANK YOU to all of our child care providers in Hardin and Marshall County!
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Carrie Kube is director of the Iowa River Valley
Early Childhood Sector Council.
