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Childcare workers face some of the most demanding and challenging work conditions: They put in long hours in a highly demanding role and, on average, receive lower pay compared to other professions. The stress from work, combined with other life stressors, can often lead to burnout or drive childcare workers to seek alternative careers.
Stress and burnout in childcare impacts both the workers, and consequently, the quality of care they provide to children and their families. Prioritizing staff well-being can help create a supportive work environment where your team feels valued.
In this article, we look at the main causes of stress and burnout for childcare workers and discuss six simple and effective staff wellness strategies to incorporate in your childcare program.
Table of contents
- Stress in childcare
- Why is mental health important
- How to improve employee well-being
- Wellness programs for staff
Stress in childcare
While rewarding, working in childcare is extremely demanding and often goes unrecognized. The stress from daily tasks that continually accumulate, coupled with relatively low wages, creates a highly stressful work environment for childcare professionals.
Stress in childcare reached a peak during the pandemic. A nationwide study in the US aimed at understanding the pandemic's effects on workers found that “46% of childcare providers screened positive for potentially diagnosable levels of major depression two to three months into the pandemic”.
While the pandemic affected the mental health of individuals across all professions, its impact on childcare professionals was notably severe. The same study revealed that “67% reported moderate to high stress” during the pandemic, nearly double the national average of 37% among US adults at that time.
Understanding the main causes of stress in childcare is important in order to create a more supportive environment that promotes wellness for your staff.
Low pay
Childcare workers are often compensated with lower wages and receive fewer employer-sponsored benefits. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for childcare workers was $14.04 in 2023, compared to $16.82 for Elementary and Secondary School educators. The difference is even more striking when compared to the median for all occupations, which was at $23.11, nearly 65% higher than of childcare workers.
The wages for childcare workers are not keeping up with the rising cost of living. The Early Childcare Workforce Index 2024 report states that “in every state, the median ECE (early childhood education) wage falls below the living wage for a single adult with no children.” According to the report, this gap ranges from 8% below the living wage in Hampshire, to 32% in Hawaii. As a result, childcare workers often face ongoing stress and anxiety about making ends meet, which may force them to take on additional jobs to supplement their income. Working multiple jobs and double shifts can lead to burnout among childcare workers.
Lack of appreciation
Low pay also reflects a lack of appreciation. Childcare is an extremely demanding profession that requires significant physical, mental, and emotional effort, yet it remains largely undervalued in society.
Childcare professionals are expected to create and constantly maintain a nurturing learning environment, while also managing classroom behavior and tending to the different needs of individual children in their care. Despite the central role they play in the development of children, society often overlooks the significance of their contributions. In addition to lower wages, childcare workers often receive fewer benefits beyond their salaries. According to research published by the Economic Policy Institute, just 15% have employer-sponsored health insurance, compared to 49.9% of the general workforce, and only 9.6% have a pension plan, compared with 39% of workers in similar occupations. This lack of recognition can negatively affect their motivation to continue and persevere in their roles.
Lack of training and support
Childcare professionals are a very diverse group, with different educational backgrounds, cultures, and previous work experience. This can lead to gaps in knowledge and the need to align with best practices. These gaps are particularly noticeable when it comes to the additional administrative tasks that educators are required to handle.
Without adequate and systematic professional training, childcare professionals can find themselves lacking the tools they need to do their job as well as they could. This is no surprise, given the lower level of investment in early childhood education compared to other developed countries. In fact, “the United States spends a smaller proportion of GDP on ECE than most other rich countries—0.33 percent of GDP for the United States compared to an average of 0.74 percent among OECD countries”, according to data republished by the White House. This struggle to meet job demands without proper support and resources can significantly contribute to stress and burnout among childcare workers.
Why is mental health important
Promoting staff wellness in childcare has great benefits for your educators, your childcare business, and the children in your care. After all, when educators are able to do their job without the constant pressure of stress and burnout, they can focus on what they do best: create a vivid, stimulating and nurturing environment in which children can grow and learn.
Here are two key reasons why mental health is crucial in childcare:
Improve overall mental health
Suffering from professional stress and burnout can affect both your work and home life, impacting your entire well-being. A very stressful environment at work is not something most people can leave behind at the end of the day, so it often continues to affect them after hours. This can lead to sleep disturbances, increasing tensions in personal relationships, and persistent feelings of stress and anxiety.
Stress over a long period of time can contribute to serious health conditions, such as heart disease, body aches, and overall weakened immune function. It can also increase the risk of accidents at work due to physical and mental exhaustion.
Mental health is important, because childcare workers need be healthy, both emotionally and physically, to effectively care for children and provide a nurturing environment.
Attract and retain top talent
The significant impact of work-related stress means employees are more likely to leave their jobs when they are constantly stressed and fear burnout. Employees are increasingly seeking workplaces where their mental health is prioritized by both themselves and their employers. In a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, 81% responded that employer’s support for mental health is an important consideration for their future job searches.
Focusing on the mental health and well-being of your childcare staff means that you can attract and retain top talent in your program. Stress in childcare can drive away educators who are great at their job but seek better working conditions. It also means that those who stay underperform in their jobs, because constant stress comes with feelings of exhaustion, lack of focus and motivation. Emphasizing staff wellness will help you attract and retain excellent staff who can perform at their best and create engaging and nurturing environments for the children in your care.
How to improve employee well-being
Although you may not be able to address all stress factors in your employees’ lives, building a strong staff wellness program for your team can make a big difference. A carefully designed set of policies and initiatives aimed at enhancing employee well-being will positively affect both your team and the children and families in your care.
Here are six key areas to focus on for staff wellness programs:
Open communication about wellness
The first step in enhancing employee well-being is to discuss it openly. It is important to keep lines of communication open with your team, and check in with them frequently to ask if there is anything that is causing them stress or if they feel signs of burnout. These signs may not always be visible, so regular check-ins can help identify stress factors early.
Consider talking to your team about stress factors at work, as well as non-work-related mental health issues. Knowing the circumstances of your team both at work and at home can help you build a more holistic understanding of their experience and their needs.
Following up on these conversations is very important. Regularly checking in and following up on your conversations shows your team that you are committed to their well-being. Providing them with the resources, flexibility, and support they need to address stressors can help them navigate challenges before they escalate.
Constructive performance reviews
Performance reviews can be a particularly challenging aspect of communication between managers and staff, often adding to work-related stress. This is especially true when reviews are infrequent, leaving staff unclear about how management perceives their performance.
To make this process less intimidating and to reduce stress for your team, consider having more regular checkpoints with your staff. This way, they are aware of their performance and it doesn't culminate in one major annual review. Also, make sure to acknowledge and praise your staff when they perform well. For childcare workers, who are often under-appreciated by society, recognizing their achievements can significantly boost their morale and well-being. Here are 75 Staff Appreciation Ideas to show your staff you recognize their work.
Encourage feedback from staff
Open communication needs to be a two-way street. Just as it is important for you to give your feedback on your employees’ performance, it is equally important to listen to their needs and concerns. There is often a disconnect between what managers think their employees need, and what they actually need.
Encouraging your employees to be open with feedback on new policies and how they impact their work, or on what they feel would make them better equipped to do their jobs well, can go a long way. It will help identify and resolve workplace issues, creating an environment where your team can thrive.
Promote flexibility
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is challenging, but it is also incredibly important when it comes to well-being. Explore ways to improve your team’s work-life balance. Encourage them to take breaks during the day, or take personal days off when they need to. This will help them relax, decompress, and manage other responsibilities outside of work. Reducing stress through time off can prevent burnout and decrease staff turnover.
Beyond taking time off, consider offering flexible work hours. Many educators are caregivers for children or elderly parents and have other responsibilities they try to juggle outside of work. Supporting them in meeting their personal needs and obligations will help your team balance their life and work better and reduce their overall stress.
Staffing and professional development
Making sure your organization is adequately staffed means that your team’s workload is reasonable. It may seem costly to hire additional staff, but there is a significant cost attached to overworking your employees. If they can't take breaks or days off due to workload, if they can't focus on their primary job because of excessive paperwork, or if they work long hours for little pay, they risk exhaustion or burnout. They won't be able to perform the job you hired them for without adequate support.
Providing ongoing professional development opportunities is also very important to ensure your team has the tools they need to manage their workload. Investing in your team’s development can help them learn new practices that make their job more fun and productive. It also sends a clear message to your team that you care about staff wellness and you appreciate their development and future career.
Foster a sense of belonging
The overall culture of your workplace matters when it comes to staff wellness. Employees who feel they are part of a team and have supportive relationships with their colleagues are more motivated and feel more supported during stressful times. Creating an open environment where your team is encouraged to work together, to exchange ideas, and to develop personal relationships will help your team feel more supported at work. Here are 5 Ways to Reduce Stress and Burnout for Early Educators through Community Support.
Wellness programs for staff
Work in childcare is incredibly demanding. It requires long hours and physical and mental endurance to create a nurturing and safe environment in which children can develop and thrive. These demands can become overwhelming, leading to stress and burnout. This is particularly difficult for employees who must also manage financial responsibilities and other personal obligations outside of work.
Prioritizing your team’s mental health and implementing wellness programs can protect your staff from stress and burnout. This not only enhances their job performance but also increases their job satisfaction. Promoting staff wellness benefits both your team and your childcare center.
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