What Motivates Today’s Child Care Workforce?

If you’re running a child care program, you already know how essential your staff is to the success of your center. But attracting and retaining great educators is harder than ever — and we believe that doing this well will come down to understanding what motivates them.

At Tandem, we work with thousands of child care workers across multiple states, giving us a unique window into what they value most in their work. Whether you’re hiring for a long-term role or filling in a last-minute gap, these insights can help you create a workplace that today’s educators want to be a part of — and stay in.

1. Flexibility Is No Longer a Perk — It’s an Expectation

Many child care workers enter this field because they love working with kids, but traditional staffing models can lead to burnout. We’ve found that flexibility is a major reason workers stay in the field longer.

When they’re able to choose when and where they work, workers feel more in control — and that directly impacts their reliability and performance. Centers that can offer some level of schedule flexibility, or are open to part-time/fill-in roles, tend to attract stronger candidates and maintain higher morale.

What You Can Do:

• Consider how your scheduling practices support (or hinder) flexibility.
• During the interview process, work to understand the candidate’s daily responsibilities, helping to determine if a flexible offer may be necessary for them to accept a role.
• Welcome reliable, repeat substitutes who can help relieve pressure on full-time staff.

2. Recognition and Respect Go a Long Way

Child care workers often report feeling overlooked or undervalued. But the small things — like a warm welcome, a thank-you at the end of a shift, or knowing their feedback is heard — can make a big difference.

Our workers consistently tell us that they return to centers where they feel appreciated. It’s not just about compensation — it’s about being seen as professionals.

What You Can Do:

• Make time for a quick “thank you” or check-in at the end of a shift.
• Share feedback early and often, whether it’s a quick kudos or constructive criticism. 
• Give workers more responsibility, showing that they’re a valuable asset and that you trust them to take on more.

3. Clarity Builds Confidence

Integrating into a new environment can be intimidating. Workers who know what’s expected of them from the get go, and along the way, are set up to feel confident and do great work. 

What You Can Do:

• Make sure onboarding is comprehensive. Administrators are busy, but putting in this time upfront can go a long way in terms of retention.
• Assign new workers a “mentor,” or a more retained worker at the center. This provides a place for them to go with questions that they may not have otherwise asked. It also empowers the more tenured teacher to feel like a leader.

Building a Workplace Workers Choose Again and Again

We know the staffing market is competitive. But centers that focus on flexibility, clarity, and recognition consistently rise to the top.

Keep in mind that workers are also choosing your center. Understanding what motivates them is the first step to building a team that supports your mission and helps your program thrive.

Have questions about how to make your center more appealing to great staff? We’d love to talk. Let’s build stronger child care together.