Thank Your Child's Educator During Teacher Appreciation Week

During Teacher Appreciation Week in May, show your child's educator he or she is appreciated and also teach your child the importance of showing gratitude and appreciation to people who care about them.

The end of the school year is clearly in sight, with summer just around the corner. I can’t wait! But…before we pack away the marble notebooks and markers, and before the beach replaces the classroom for a few months, it’s time to thank our teachers for the committed effort they have made throughout this school year.

Teachers not only educate our kids, but they also play an important role in supporting the emotional and social growth of each child they teach. The perfect opportunity to show gratitude to your child’s teacher is during Teacher Appreciation Week, which falls on the week of May 6 this year.

The truth is that Teacher Appreciation Week is not just a time for parents to thank teachers but also an opportunity to teach your child to be appreciative. The typical child will rarely, if ever, think about the importance of having a caring and enthusiastic teacher (unless he experiences a less than stellar teacher). It is, therefore, your job to help your child learn to show gratitude to her teachers.

Developing the ability to value others and also to have empathy are important skills that don’t necessarily come naturally to children—they need to be taught—and this is a perfect opportunity. Furthermore, when your child learns to appreciate good teachers, it also helps her begin to value education as an important part of her life. You will be grateful for this appreciation when your child gets to high school.