Bentleys, Bora Bora, and Bottega: Dream Perks for Teachers

As childcare professionals, we are notoriously underpaid. I mean, it’s not like we do anything meaningful or impactful, like supporting working families or helping kids build the foundational skills they’ll need for their ENTIRE LIVES or anything. If I had it my way, all childcare professionals would have six-figure salaries and personal baristas. Hey, it’s Dreams Come True December, right? We can all hope.

Here are some more benefits that would probably be on your wishlist too:

All-Expenses-Paid Luxury Vacation

Want to foster cultural awareness and support the diverse families in your center? Book your teachers on a business-class flight to Bora Bora. Oh, you don’t have any families from Bora Bora? That’s probably because you’ve never sent any of your teachers there to learn about the culture! You’ll need to throw in a daily travel stipend so they can really immerse themselves.

If the budget doesn’t stretch far enough to get your team passport-ready just yet, don’t worry—you can still help them develop cultural awareness and other skills. Consider adding subscriptions to services like Rosetta Stone, Coursera, or other online professional development platforms to your benefits package. And remember, the training doesn’t have to be childcare-related to be valuable. Think outside the box!

Housekeeping Service

With only two to three hours of nap time, there’s not enough time for most teachers to take their lunch breaks (and possibly cover for others), write assessment/observation reports, check the kids’ cubbies for supplies, plan lessons, clean and organize, etc., leaving teachers to prep at home. Preparing materials for activities and decorations means little scraps of paper all over the floor that will have to be picked up, a messy garage or cabinet filled with miscellaneous preschool supplies, and, of course, extra coffee cups to clean.

If you don’t want your students to be bored, hire a housekeeper to clean your team’s homes at least 2-3 times per week so they can keep those activities rolling.

You’re probably thinking I’m insane—and, typically, you’d be right. But in this case, I’m just kidding (mostly). If you give your teachers enough resources to plan and prep at work, this will save them from dealing with those little scraps of paper at home.

Consider giving your teachers 2-3 hours per week of time specifically for planning and prepping materials. Can’t find space in the schedule? Get creative! Do you really need every teacher present while the kids eat lunch? Could you stagger coverage to give one or two teachers 30-45 minutes of prep time each week? Even 30 minutes in the office before their shift starts can make a difference.

Quarterly Stays at a Wellness Spa

We love the kids. We love the parents. But don’t lie—they drive us crazy sometimes, and you know it! Supporting so many families is emotionally taxing. If you’re truly passionate about this work, it’s hard to detach yourself emotionally. And directors carry a constant mental load: letting go of beloved students and staff, reporting suspected abuse, finding aid for families in crisis—all while smiling through tours, spreading positive energy to their team, and still showing up for their own families.

And don’t even get me started on the constant overstimulation.

We deserve to spend at least one week per quarter in a pristine spa, with cucumbers perched delicately on our eyes (and maybe a soundproof room to block out echoes of “Ms. Candice, watch me!”). But since that’s probably wishful thinking, here are some smaller ways to give your teachers that “spa effect” every day:

• High-quality, scent-free hand cream and sunscreen in the restroom

• A beverage bar with all the fixings

• Massage or recliner chairs in the staff lounge

• Complimentary snacks in the break room

• Comfortable chairs in classrooms

• Cozy slippers or fluffy socks (for infant-room use only!)

• Paid mental health days 

• Mental health check-ins

An Annual No-Budget Shopping Spree

Those spatially unaware kids are always messing up our shoes. Puke, pee, paint, glue—whatever we wear Monday through Friday is destined for ruin. Yet somehow, schools still require us to show up in clothes that are clean and in good repair.

The only logical solution is to drop us off at the mall for five hours, once a year, to replace our work clothes—and maybe grab a little something nice for our off time too. Of course, we’ll need matching shoes and jewelry to complete the vibe. And a luxury perfume. Obviously.

Okay, I’m pushing it. But working in childcare does destroy your wardrobe, and there are practical ways to support your team. Consider giving your teachers smocks or aprons embroidered with your center’s logo (or their names, for an extra thoughtful touch). If you have a bigger budget, embroidered scrubs are a game-changer. And when in doubt, a gift card never fails.

Private Nannies

The irony of working in childcare is that you often can’t afford care for your own kids. You might make too much to qualify for subsidized programs but too little to pay out of pocket comfortably. And if your child is in a different preschool, your schedule makes it hard to stay involved in their program.

Childcare workers should reasonably expect private nannies for their kids while they’re busy bringing joy and learning to others. It’s only fair.

Private nannies are a little unrealistic, but offering free or discounted childcare for staff is entirely doable, especially if you have vacancies. If your policy doesn’t allow staff to enroll their children, reconsider. If you’re still hesitant about parents and kids being in the same center, consider reimbursing part of their childcare costs elsewhere or partnering with a neighboring center to exchange staff slots.

Concierge Doctor Services

Spending more than 43 seconds with a kid raises your chances of catching something by 68%. (Okay, I made that up—but you get the point.) Kids are walking germ factories, and when one child in the center gets sick, it spreads like wildfire.

When I worked at ABC School in South LA, an infant came in with hand, foot, and mouth disease. She was there less than three hours but still managed to pass it to another infant, who passed it to her siblings, who spread it to their classmates—before long, half the center was out. I’m still traumatized.

Concierge medical services would be amazing, but if that’s out of reach, a few extra paid sick days can help offset income loss. And sticking to your illness policy—especially during cold and flu season—costs nothing and makes a big difference. Stop letting sick kids stay at school to appease parents! It’s unfair to teachers, who end up sick themselves.

Keys to the City

A few months ago, I ran into a parent whose child graduated from my old preschool in 2018. She told me her daughter still speaks fondly of her time there every time they pass by the building. Moments like that remind me just how important we are to the kids and families we serve. We don’t just support working families in the present; we help shape their futures and give them a past they’ll cherish forever.

We are pillars of the community. Bridges between families and resources. We deserve the keys to the city.

Keys to the city might be a bit much, but showing appreciation for your teachers doesn’t have to be. Roll out the red carpet every now and then. Surprise them. Acknowledge their hard work and say thank you—it costs nothing and means everything.

As childcare professionals, we do so much for so little. Most of us are in it for the passion, not the perks—but a few perks here and there never hurt anyone. When we think of “benefits,” we usually think of health insurance and 401(k)s. Those are classics for a reason, but if you can’t provide them just yet, get creative. Small gestures can make your center the one all the teachers want to work at.

If you need help strategizing affordable ways to make your team happy, I’m just a call or click away. Let’s build a team that feels as appreciated as they deserve.