Planning your CCWAD Celebration?

Here are our suggestions, please share your own!

Municipalities

Encourage local Councilors to tour a child care centre or early learning program to learn more about the work of ECE’s. Event could also generate media coverage in local papers.

Take out an ad in the local newspaper.

Take nominations from local child care centres for outstanding staff to be recognized by the Mayor through a letter, announcement or event.

Distribute information on the day to all centres and agencies with child care staff.

Organize a community-wide celebration to recognize individual staff or centres and programs.

School Boards

Encourage school board trustees to tour an early learning program to learn more about the work of ECE’s. Event could also generate media coverage in local papers.

Arrange to have the day announced on the school PA with the morning announcements.

Notify parents in advance.  Set up a "Wall of Fame" for parents to help in writing words of thanks to each of the staff.  Laminate afterwards for the staff to keep.

Notify other staff in the school and host an event with cake or dessert in the staff room.

Local Child Care Centers, Boards of Directors

Distribute carnations to staff working in child care centres.

Start the day right with a breakfast. Distribute buttons and posters and certificates of appreciation to all staff.

Have the board of directors take the staff out for dinner and an evening of fun.

˜Host an afternoon tea party (with desserts provided by parents) for all the staff and children.

Host coffee, tea, and treats from 4:00 pm. to 7:30 pm. to accommodate staff finishing shifts.

Give each staff member a certificate of appreciation.

Have the board of directors send out a notice to each family and ask that they contribute a fruit, jam, tea, to fill a basket for all the staff.

Have the Board of Directors provide homemade cards and chocolates.

Make a bulletin board with posters and place the certificates of appreciation on the board.

Host a Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day event with a guest motivational speaker and refreshments.

Set up a "Wall of Fame" for parents to help in writing words of thanks to each of the staff.  Laminate afterwards for the staff to keep.

Have the board of directors send a letter to all families and board members accompanied by a cut-out of a hand. Ask parents to write a note to staff on the hand as a way of "giving the staff a hand" for a job well done. Then display the hands in the centre. 

Put up a big poster with the staff's 'bios' and photo and have the parents sign a message on it.

Distribute cards hand made by children and parents.

Send staff a letter from the board thanking them for their commitment to children and families.

Make a donation on behalf of the staff to a shelter for women and children in your community.

Host a pizza lunch for the staff.

Have the Board of Directors host an evening of celebration for all staff in honour of Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day.

Have community businesses sponsor the day and give discounts and gifts to all staff or provide door prizes for appreciation events, or gift bag items.

This is just a short list of activities - there are many things you can do to recognize and celebrate the valuable role child care staff play in the lives of children, families and communities.

Have a suggestion to share?