There are so many vitally important influences in a child’s early learning journey – Parents, carers, family members, friends, peers, and teachers. Studies indicate that outside of family, educators are the second most influential factor in a child’s learning outcomes and future overall well-being. And the effects go far beyond a child’s ability to read and write. It is during the first five years of a child’s life where the crucial building blocks for their emotional, social, and cognitive skills are put in place. So, the important role of educators during this time cannot be overstated.

Every day our Mother Duck educators make our services the most trusted places to nurture your child’s well-being, learning, and development to build capable, caring, and responsible citizens into society. When placing your child into our care you will observe that we have selected educators who are passionate, responsive, supportive, purposeful, and reflective.

Historically Mother Duck engaged only the most dedicated, caring and trusted people to join our Mother Duck educational teams. Today is no different. On each occasion, as we are looking to engage new or relief educators, the key traits and skills that we search for include but are not limited to –

• Educators who understand the importance of ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of children at all times
• Educators who focus on developing positive and respectful relationships with children and families
• Educators who see value in providing high-quality education and care for children
• Educators who believe in the importance of consistent and connected care for every child
• Educators who maintain aesthetically pleasing safe and hygienic indoor and outdoor learning environments that create a sense of belonging for all children, ensuring resources provide an authentic reflection of the diversity in our services and the wider community
• Educators who work within the legal and ethical frameworks that guide early childhood practice to ensure that children are always provided opportunities to foster their independence, self-esteem, and positive self-concept
• Educators who are committed to embedding into their daily practice The Philosophy, Ethics and Social Responsibility of Mother Duck Child Care and Kindergarten document and accompanying Foundational Practices

On top of these crucial skills, our Educators must also hold a current Queensland’s Working with Children Check – Blue Card prior to commencing as an Educator, become fully First Aid and CPR trained and certified, and hold or be working towards an early childhood qualification. 

With all this in mind, it is no surprise that our Mother Duck educators are pretty ‘AWESOME’ and without a doubt worthy of our genuine appreciation, gratitude, and respect. I invite you to take the time to recognise and celebrate these remarkable human beings and the work they are committed to in their educator roles at each of our Mother Duck services, whichever service your child attends –

• Bellbowrie
• Bracken Ridge
• Carindale
• Eatons Hill
• Enoggera
• Gaythorne
• Kallangur 1&2
• Kallangur 3
• Lawnton
• Manly, and
• Wynnum

This year we celebrate Early Childhood Educators’ Day on Wednesday 6th September 2023.

Did you know?

Educators’ Day was founded in 2011 in Brisbane, Queensland by the Australian Childcare Alliance’s Queensland state body, to recognise and celebrate the work of early childhood educators in early learning services for their contribution to the wellbeing and healthy development of Australia’s precious, youngest generation.  

The event was inspired by World Teachers’ Day, an annual event which is celebrated every October in more than 100 countries.

Since its inaugural celebration in 2011, Early Childhood Educators’ Day has enjoyed increasing participation Australia-wide from year to year among the early learning sector along with the broader community. It is now a well-known, fondly received event held every year Australia-wide on the first Wednesday of September.

The benefits of high-quality Early Childhood Education and Care are now well recognised and acknowledged locally and globally across the education sector. Children who enjoy their early childhood service experiences are likely to be well-socialised, confident, inquisitive about the world, accepting of diversity, resilient to manage challenges, and also to be life-long learners. Australia’s early childhood educators deserve to be acknowledged, thanked, and appreciated for all they do.

What is the purpose of Early Childhood Educators Day?

Early Childhood Educators’ Day recognises & celebrates the work of Australia’s educators in early learning services for their wonderful contribution to the well-being and healthy development of the young children in their care. It’s our chance to say a huge thank you to Australia’s early childhood educators on a very personal level by service operators, families and their children, as well as collectively at the national and state levels.

Recognition and appreciation

• This national community event acknowledges the vital role that early childhood educators play in the lives of young children and their families. It also shines a light on the long-term benefits of early learning, which are now well-recognised in Australia as well as globally. At the local level, it provides a wonderful opportunity for the community, parents, and employers to express gratitude and appreciation for the hard work and significant impact that educators have on children’s lives.

Staff wellbeing

• By focusing on recognition and community support, Early Childhood Educators’ Day can contribute to job satisfaction and a positive team culture. It can also play a part in each early learning service’s staff wellbeing plan. Some Early Childhood Educators’ Day local celebrations may even include wellness-focused activities such as mindfulness sessions, relaxation exercises, or self-care workshops. These initiatives promote self-care practices, stress reduction, and overall well-being among educators.

Advocacy and raising awareness

• Early Childhood Educators’ Day serves as a platform to raise awareness about the importance of high-quality Early Childhood Education and Care. It highlights the valuable contributions of early childhood educators in laying the foundation for children’s future learning, development, and well-being. It also emphasizes the need for adequate resources, support, and recognition for early childhood education programs and educators.

Overall, Early Childhood Educators’ Day seeks to honour and uplift the profession of early childhood education, creating a positive impact on both educators and the wider community.

Wednesday 6 September is your perfect opportunity together with your child to say ‘thank you’.

Some ideas you and your child/children might like to consider:

• Make a ‘thank you’ card or a home-made gift
• Create some art – a drawing, painting or decoration
• Write a short story or poem about why he/she loves his/her early childhood educator
• Pick some flowers from your garden
• Make or bake something delicious to bring in on the day
• Join in the fun activities that your local service may be organising as part of the celebrations

To find out how to get involved I encourage you to chat with your child’s Mother Duck service Leadership Team to hear what they have planned and visit  www.earlychildhoodeducatorsday.org.au/ to learn more.

Thank you is such a simple thing to say and yet we all know that gratitude sweetens even the smallest moments.