Burnout among teachers and early childhood educators is very real. These professions, without proper support, often see high rates of fatigue and turnover, especially among daycare center workers. There are many actions you can take, as an employer or supervisor, to help decrease the stress in your environment and support your employees. Here are some simple but effective ways you can help prevent burnout in child care educators. 

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How to Prevent Burnout in Child Care Workers

Foster an Open Door Policy

Ensure every staff member feels comfortable, in any situation, talking to their supervisor or a higher-up. Communication is key and it’s crucial that this two-way street is a respectful and open place where employees feel comfortable discussing their thoughts, needs and any potential issues.

Create Peaceful Environments

Simple things can go a long way in creating a more peaceful environment. Having calming music playing in the background is a great way to not only start the day’s transition for the children but can also work well to calm nerves throughout the day for staff as well. Quick mindfulness exercises/“snacks” are also great to help reset the nervous system. 

Eliminate the Paperwork

Free up your childhood educators’ time so they can focus on the children and take proper breaks, by getting rid of the tedious paperwork that comes with the job. ChildFriendly’s app lets staff add everything from meals or nap times to incident reports and medication logs. This can save so much time filling out paperwork, which can often be a huge headache for childcare providers. Investing in a user-friendly app also saves the center time and money, so it’s a win-win!

Have a Separate Staff Room to Unwind

Wherever possible, have a quiet and separate place for staff to sit and relax. This is one of the most important elements in protecting your staff’s peace and mental health. Even a 15-minute window to unwind away from the regular noise and environment. Likewise, ensure every employee gets their allotted break times. This is crucial time for childcare educators to de-stress and enjoy some quiet time. You can encourage staff to take a walk if they’d like or whatever helps them feel relaxed. This way they can come back to their group or class feeling refreshed. 

Regular Check-Ins to Prevent Burnout

Set aside 5-10 minutes for a quick weekly check-in with each childcare educator. Actively listen to any concerns they have and make sure you address these if they do come up. Taking time to listen to everyone fosters a positive and healthy work environment. It also means that as your relationship develops, your employees will feel more comfortable talking to you and working out any kinks, leading to overall higher staff satisfaction and retainment. Use the ChildFriendly app to send messages and set up these check-ins quickly and easily. 

Show Appreciation for Child Care Educators

Last but certainly not least, let your employees know how much you care about them and appreciate the hard work they are doing. This could be as simple as bringing treats in treats, ordering lunch, or surprising staff with little gifts like a coffee gift card or face masks for self-care. Organize regular staff gatherings or outings so employees have a chance to connect and foster relationships outside of the workplace. Think seasonally: i.e. summer beach-themed party. A simple acknowledgement also goes a long way: “you’re doing such a great job caring for the kids.” Check out this great list of fun and effective ways to show your staff appreciation for childcare workers. 

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Making an effort to support your child care educators not only helps you retain your valuable and hardworking staff, but it also creates a happier and more positive environment for everyone. Remember, your employees are often the backbone of your business! Making sure you prevent burnout will go a long way in creating a healthy and happy center.