Early childhood educators are the steady hands, open hearts, and calm voices that help shape our tiniest humans into confident, curious little beings. They do far more than teach ABCs or settle playground disputes. They nurture emotional growth, support behavioural development, manage unpredictable group dynamics, and somehow still have enough energy left to smile through glitter spills, nap-time meltdowns, and endless renditions of “Baby Shark.”
Sure, weekends off and the occasional staff morning tea are nice. But when it comes to meaningful recognition, they barely scratch the surface of what these educators actually need.
What do these legends really deserve? Appreciation that fits into their daily routine. Recharge time that doesn’t come with a guilt trip. Real support that prioritises their physical and mental wellbeing. Sometimes, that looks like a quiet moment to breathe. Other times, it’s a chair massage in the staff room, a mini facial between planning sessions, or a nail touch-up that helps them feel refreshed and confident.
In this blog, we explore why early childhood educators deserve more than time off—and how wellness experiences like on-site massages and beauty treatments can provide the support they need, right where they need it most.
Unstaggering Mental Load
Let’s start with the facts. According to the 2024 ECEC National Workforce Census, nearly 91.2% of early childhood educators in Australia are women, with most aged between 25 and 44. This places them right in the middle of a high-responsibility life stage—often balancing the demands of parenting, running a household, and working in a role that is physically, emotionally and mentally intense.
Early childhood educators aren’t just teaching or supervising young children. They’re also:
- Navigating developmental delays.
- Managing separation anxiety (not just the kids’ 👀).
- Supporting complex family dynamics and helping children with emotional regulation.
- Responding to allergies, accidents, illnesses, and behavioural challenges—all before morning tea.
It’s no surprise that a Monash University study found approx 41 % of primary and secondary teachers intend to remain in the profession, with the rest citing heavy workloads, health and wellbeing concerns, and the emotional toll. Many report that exhaustion, low morale, and ongoing stress have become part of the job description.
Masked Physical Toll
The job may not involve a desk or a boardroom, but that doesn’t make it any less demanding. Early childhood educators are constantly bending, kneeling, lifting, sitting on tiny chairs, or working at kid-height tables. Add to that the occasional child-on-hip moment and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a sore back, tight shoulders, and a body that’s crying out for a break.
In fact, musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common workplace injuries among early childhood educators in Australia. Long hours spent on their feet, repetitive physical tasks, and poor ergonomic environments (hello, toddler-sized furniture 🪑) all contribute to this.
And while a weekend on the couch might ease the ache temporarily and help you snooze off guilt-free, it doesn’t address the chronic tension or pain that builds up over time. That’s where something like a 15-minute chair massage (that’s delivered right in the staffroom) can make a real difference. It’s not just a treat. It’s targeted relief.
Ever-present emotional baggage
Educators are trained to support young children through big feelings. It’s the movie “Inside Out” on repeat for their daily schedule. Anger, fear, sadness, excitement; they handle it all with extraordinary grace (and maybe a few eye twitches and sneaky coffee breaks in the teachers’ lounge). But who’s supporting them through theirs?
There’s an emotional weight to caring for others all day, especially when you’re constantly putting your own needs last. When the focus is always on someone else’s wellbeing, your own tank runs dry. Fast.
That’s why appreciation needs to go beyond a morning tea and a thank-you card. Recognition should come in the form of restorative experiences, not just symbolic gestures. A little time to recharge can go a long way in improving emotional resilience, reducing stress, and simply making someone feel seen.
Time-off is the bare minimum
Taking a day off is great. But time-off doesn’t always mean rest. Educators who are also parents or caregivers often spend their weekends catching up on the other side of their life. Laundry, groceries, errands, catching up on conversations with the family that doesn’t stick to the dinner table. The result? They return to school Monday morning just as tired as they were on a Friday afternoon. This is the moment they start to think, maybe being a toddler in their class is way better than being an educator.
Instead, real appreciation is about giving educators a moment to pause during the week, during the workday, and without needing to leave the premises, although a wellness retreat is so much better.
That’s where Blys comes in.
With a team of vetted wellness professionals available across Australia, Blys helps schools and early learning centres bring wellness straight to the team of educators—with on-site chair massages, mini facials, nail bars, brow and lash treatments, meditation sessions, yoga classes, and even hair and makeup for events or photo days.
The most popular option? On-site chair massages. They’re the most accessible and impactful way to help educators unwind, reset, and feel physically better—without needing to take a whole day off or organise transport. Besides, getting to relax while a professional works some mid-day magic on their neck and shoulders? The dream!
Additionally, there’s something powerful about being pampered. Whether it’s a fresh manicure, a polished blow-dry, or perfectly shaped brows, small beauty rituals can have a huge impact on confidence and mood. When you look good, you feel good.
For educators who spend their days focused entirely on others, having someone focus on them even for a few minutes can be a game-changer.
These aren’t just “nice to haves.” They’re real moments of care that say: You matter. We see you. And we want you to feel your best.
Planning wellness events that fit your schedule
The best part of having on-site wellness events? Schools don’t have to overcomplicate it. With Blys, they can be scheduled during planning days, professional development days, staff meetings, or even in short 1 hour time blocks throughout the day. Best if the kids are at recess.
And it doesn’t have to be a whole-school event. Even a small pop-up pamper station in the staffroom can make a difference.
Need help making it work for your school’s calendar and budget? Blys offers flexible packages and group pricing, so you can design a staff wellbeing day that ticks all the boxes—without blowing the term budget.
This Early Childhood Educators’ Day, don’t just hand out cupcakes and call it a celebration. Give your team something they’ll remember, appreciate, and genuinely benefit from. Wellness activities that go beyond surface-level gratitude and provide real support—physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Whether it’s a ten-minute chair massage, a nail touch-up between lunch and nap time, or a facial that helps reset and recharge, your educators deserve it. And they deserve it more than once a year.
