There is something quite strange about being an early childhood teacher. You can become a significant person in a child's life, spend hours with them every week, get to know their personality, interests, friendships and little quirks, and then one day, they leave.
They start school. Their family moves. You change jobs. Life moves on. And you don't always get to find out what they remember.
You might never know whether they remember the songs you used to sing, the stories you read, the games you played or the way you helped them settle when they were upset. You might never know which small moment mattered to them. But that doesn't mean those moments weren't important.
That's what I've been thinking about in the latest episode of the Eco Kids Podcast: You Might Not Remember Us, But We Remember You, Why ECE Teachers Matter.
🎧 Watch/listen on YouTube here
The invisible work of an ECE teacher
When people think about early childhood education, they might picture children playing, painting, reading stories, building with blocks or spending time outside. And yes, all of those things happen. But there is so much more happening underneath those everyday experiences.
ECE teachers are watching. We're noticing who is struggling to separate from their parent in the morning. We're noticing the child who is beginning to join a group of friends. We're noticing the child who has suddenly started communicating more confidently. We're noticing when a child who usually avoids something finally decides to give it a try. We're supporting children through conflict, frustration, excitement, uncertainty and change. We're helping children develop relationships. We're creating environments where they can explore. We're listening to their ideas. We're celebrating their achievements. And we're often doing all of this while trying to think about what each child might need next.
A lot of this work is invisible. And that's okay, because children don't need to see everything we're doing behind the scenes. But I think it's worth remembering that these small moments can be incredibly significant.
Children may not remember everything, but they experience it
One of the things I find interesting about early childhood is that most children aren't going to remember every experience they have. They probably won't remember the carefully planned activity that took their teachers ages to prepare. They probably won't remember every learning experience or every story that was written about them. They may not even remember the names of all their teachers. But that doesn't mean those experiences weren't meaningful.
Children are experiencing what relationships feel like. They are learning whether adults listen to them. Whether their ideas matter. Whether they can make mistakes and try again. Whether someone will comfort them when they're upset. Whether they belong. Whether they are capable. Whether their curiosity is encouraged. Those experiences become part of how children understand themselves and the world around them. And that is one of the reasons I think early childhood education matters so much.
We're not simply filling children's days until they are old enough for school. We're part of their earliest experiences of learning, relationships and belonging.
Think about the teachers you remember
Most of us can probably think of at least one teacher from our own childhood who we remember. Maybe they encouraged you when you were struggling. Maybe they made a subject interesting. Maybe they noticed something about you that other people didn't. Maybe they made you laugh. Maybe they made you feel capable. Or maybe they were simply a safe and consistent person during a particular time in your life.
Sometimes we don't fully appreciate those people until we're older. And becoming a teacher yourself can give you a completely different perspective. You start to understand how much work happens behind the scenes.
You realise that the teacher who seemed endlessly patient probably had difficult days too. You realise that someone was thinking carefully about how to support you. You realise that the things that seemed small at the time may actually have taken a lot of time, thought and care. And suddenly, you appreciate them in a completely different way.
Why saying thank you matters
Teachers don't necessarily need constant praise. But I think being told that something you did mattered can mean a lot. Teaching can sometimes feel like putting something out into the world without knowing where it will eventually land. You support a child. You encourage them. You advocate for them. You help them through something difficult. You celebrate their progress. And then they move on.
You don't always get to see what happens next. So hearing something as simple as: “Thank you.”
“I remember you.”
“You made a difference.”
can be incredibly meaningful. It reminds us that even when we don't see the outcome, our work can still matter.
Thank a Teacher
This is also why I was really happy to be able to include Warehouse Stationery's Thank a Teacher campaign in this episode of the Eco Kids Podcast.
With World Teachers' Day, Thank a Teacher is a lovely reminder to tell a teacher what they have meant to you.
From October 5th to November 1st, you can create a free personalised card online or at any Warehouse Stationery store.
And there's a wider community benefit too.
For every card made, Warehouse Stationery will donate $2 to The Salvation Army, up to $50,000, to help Kiwi kids get school essentials.
So if a teacher has made a difference to you, your child or someone in your family, this could be a really simple way to let them know. It doesn't have to be a huge message. Sometimes a few words are enough.
Win 1 of 2 $50 Warehouse Stationery Gift Cards
To celebrate the episode, I'm also giving away 2 x $50 Warehouse Stationery gift cards! And I'm keeping the giveaway really simple.
To enter:
Leave a comment on the Eco Kids giveaway post telling me about a teacher you'd like to thank and why.
That's it! It could be an early childhood teacher, a school teacher, someone from your own childhood, or someone who has made a difference to your child.
Two winners will be randomly selected, with each winner receiving a $50 Warehouse Stationery gift card.
Entries close: Friday 16th October 9am NZT.
Open to: New Zealand residents.
Sharing the episode or giveaway post isn't required to enter, although you're very welcome to share it if you'd like to help spread the word.
👉 Enter the giveaway on Instagram
Giveaway terms apply. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Instagram.
And if you're an ECE teacher...
I want to finish with something for the teachers reading this. You may not know what children remember about you. You may never find out whether a child remembers the book you read every day, the game you played together or the way you helped them feel safe when they first started. You may never get to see how the children you've taught grow up. And that's okay.
The value of your work isn't dependent on being remembered. You are there for a particular chapter in a child's life. During that chapter, you can help make their world feel safe. You can help them feel capable. You can listen to their ideas. You can encourage their curiosity. You can help them build relationships. You can give them opportunities to try, fail, try again and discover what they can do. And eventually, you let them go.
That's part of the privilege of being an early childhood teacher. We get to be part of children's stories, even when we don't get to read the next chapter.
You might not remember everything your teachers did.
And children might not remember everything we did either. But that doesn't mean it didn't matter.
So if a teacher came to mind while reading this, maybe take a moment to tell them. Send a message. Write a card. Tell them in person. Or simply say thank you. Because sometimes the people who made the biggest difference in our lives never knew that they did.
Listen to the episode
🎙️ Listen to You Might Not Remember Us, But We Remember You on Spotify
And don't forget to enter the Thank a Teacher giveaway on Instagram for your chance to win one of two $50 Warehouse Stationery gift cards