A Field Built on Care — But Often Starved for It

Part 1 of the “Mattering in Early Childhood Education” Series

In early childhood education, our work is rooted in mattering.
Every day, we help children feel seen, valued, and needed — through our greetings, encouragement, and consistency.

But here’s the hard truth: the people who give that care often go home wondering if they matter, too.

Teaching young children is an act of giving — patience, creativity, and compassion. Every smile, redirection, and comforting word tells a child: You are seen. You are safe. You matter.

Yet behind those moments, many educators quietly carry the ache of not being seen themselves. Their worth and wellbeing can get buried under paperwork, expectations, and exhaustion. Staffing shortages, turnover, and burnout have become the norm.
But beneath those challenges lies something deeper — the erosion of mattering.

“People don’t burn out because they stop caring. They burn out because they stop feeling like what they do matters.”

When educators feel invisible or replaceable, even the most passionate ones lose their spark — not from lack of love, but from lack of recognition.

Mattering isn’t fluff — it’s fuel. When educators feel know they matter, they show up differently:

  • with more patience,

  • deeper collaboration,

  • and greater joy.

Mattering doesn’t remove the hard parts of the job — it gives them meaning. It transforms tasks into purpose and teams into communities. Mattering is not a luxury — it’s a leadership strategy.
It’s how we sustain hope, connection, and excellence in a profession built on relationships.

So I leave you with a question and a challenge.

Question: Who in your program helps others feel seen and valued, yet may not feel that way themselves? And how might you notice, affirm, and remind them that they matter this week?

Challenge: Take one small step. Send a message, leave a note, or simply say, “I appreciate you.”

Because in a field built on care, the greatest act of leadership is making sure the caregivers feel cared for, too.

Looking Ahead: The Mattering Series

This post launches a multi-part series exploring mattering at work — what it looks like, why it matters, and how we can intentionally create it across levels of the organization.

Upcoming posts will include:

  1. Mattering, Belonging, and Inclusion: How They Work Together

    (How connection, equity, and recognition build thriving cultures)

  2. The Power of Mattering: Understanding the Noticed–Affirmed–Needed Model
    (How mattering fuels motivation and belonging)

  3. Mattering is Culture Work
    (From personal reflection to team culture and organizational systems)

  4. The Ripple Effect: How Mattering Impacts Children, Families, and Outcomes
    (Why adult wellbeing is inseparable from child wellbeing)

  5. Practical Strategies for Leaders: Making Mattering Visible Every Day
    (Small shifts that make a lasting difference)

Deidre Harris