Celebrate Provider Appreciation Day® 2023 by joining the #ThankYouChildCare Twitter chat!  

Hosted by Child Care Aware® of America, you are invited to respond to questions and share how you are celebrating. It’s also an opportunity to help educate others on how we can collectively improve the child care sector for all.    

Physical play is an important factor in children’s learning and supports their healthy development. Playgrounds provide spaces for children to be active, engage in imaginative play, socialize with peers and develop new skills. While public playgrounds and playspaces’ safety and access can vary across geographies, too often playgrounds are scarce, and the quality of existing playgrounds could be better: frequently consisting of broken play components, outdated equipment or surfaces that should be replaced. A lack of quality play and exercise infrastructure can negatively impact children's mental and physical well-being. Furthermore, violence within and around parks can negatively impact children's access to public parks and play spaces. 

On Tuesday, April 18, 2023, President Biden signed an Executive Order (EO) that contains more than 50 directives to support child care, home-based care, family caregivers and long-term care. Child Care Aware of America attended the EO signing and celebrates the President’s action. 

“Provider Appreciation Day” sounds very official – but it doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s really just about saying “thank you” to America’s child care providers, many of whom are underpaid and overworked.  

A simple gesture can mean the world to the workforce that keeps the rest of the workforce going. Child Care Aware® of America makes it easy to say #ThankYouChildCare with our toolkit of resources in English and Spanish, and a few easy activities that can make a provider feel appreciated. 

Spring flooding is a current reality in much of the Midwest and other parts of the country.  While those living in the northern tier of the country may be wishing for a quick spring warm up and the disappearance of snow, extreme snow melt, which occurs when snow melts too rapidly over a short period of time, can be destructive and deadly, causing floods, landslides, and dam failures.