Raising Grateful Kids: How Celebrating Teachers Plants Seeds That Last

Every weekday morning, the teachers and staff at Child's World Encino open their doors, get down on little ones' levels, and pour their energy into helping your children grow. They do it because they love it, and they deserve to feel celebrated!

Staff Appreciation Week, May 4-8, is our school's annual tradition of making sure our team feels genuinely seen and valued. This year's theme is the 90s, and yes, it is going to be a lot of fun. Families are invited to contribute to a parent-provided brunch on Monday morning, and throughout the week the team will enjoy a coffee cart, shaved ice, and a special staff lunch on Friday when school closes at noon.

But beyond the fun, there's something meaningful happening here for your children

Young children learn gratitude by watching the adults around them practice it. When families bring in food for a teacher brunch, or when a child draws a picture for their favorite teacher, they're doing something powerful: they're connecting appreciation with action. Research in early childhood development consistently shows that children who develop gratitude skills early carry those skills into their relationships, their academics, and their sense of well-being throughout life.

At Child's World Encino, our whole-child philosophy means we care as much about social-emotional development as we do about letters and numbers. Gratitude is part of that. Helping your child understand why we celebrate teachers, and letting them take part in it, is a simple and joyful way to reinforce something that will serve them for years.

Here are a few ways your family can make this week feel special

Sign up for the Monday brunch through the link coming to your inbox. Even a small contribution goes a long way.

Encourage your child to tell their teacher one thing they love about school this week.

* Help your child write a note or draw a picture for their classroom team.

Thank you for being such an engaged and generous community. We are proud to celebrate together.