Wednesday, October 21, 2026 is the 26th annual Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day. This day recognizes the commitment, skills and hard work of Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) and staff who work with young children.

This year’s Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day theme is Care Counts, to center the importance of care in early learning and child care and the pride that ECEs and child care workers feel in their work. There is no education without care. “Care Counts” also speaks to the need to value and remunerate those doing care work better – and builds solidarity across care work professions.

Tip Sheet for Celebrating Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day

To order materials for your program click on the link below:

Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day 2026 – OCBCC