The Power of Noticing

In early childhood education, some of the most important things we do are also the easiest to overlook. 

The kaiako who quietly steps in to support a colleague during a busy transition. The person who spends extra time reassuring a whānau member at drop-off. The thoughtful preparation of an environment before anyone else arrives. The colleague who notices that you need a hand before you have even asked. 

These moments happen every day. 

And sometimes, the simplest thing we can do is notice them and say something. 

Gratitude does not need to be a grand gesture, a formal reward or a special celebration. At its heart, gratitude is about noticing the contribution another person makes and taking the time to acknowledge it. 

Think about how it feels when someone genuinely notices something you have done. 

Not just a passing "good job", but a comment that tells you they really saw the care, thought or effort behind your actions. 

Recognition can help people feel seen, valued, connected and motivated. It strengthens relationships and builds belonging and trust within a team.  

For kaiako, this is particularly important because so much of our work is relational. We give a great deal of ourselves to tamariki, whānau and each other, and not all of that work is immediately visible. 

Sometimes a colleague simply needs to hear: 

"I noticed how patient you were with that whānau this morning. You gave them the time they needed, even though there was so much else happening. Thank you." 

That feels very different from: "Good job today." 

The difference is specificity. 

When we explain what we noticed and why it mattered, we help another person see the value of their contribution.  

One of the lovely things about gratitude is that some of its most meaningful expressions cost absolutely nothing. 

It could be: 

• stopping long enough to say thank you and explaining why 
• listening to a colleague without distractions 
• sending a quick personal message 
• acknowledging someone's contribution during a team meeting 
• stepping in to help when the day gets busy 
• celebrating progress rather than waiting for the perfect outcome 
• noticing the quieter contributions that can easily go unseen.  

In fact, those quieter contributions are sometimes the ones people recognise least in themselves, even though they make an enormous difference to the people around them.  

This gives us an interesting challenge as kaiako: What are we noticing? 

Are we only recognising the big moments, or are we paying attention to the hundreds of small acts of care, teamwork, problem-solving, patience and kindness that make our centres what they are?

There is another important piece to remember: gratitude is personal. 

One person might love being acknowledged in front of the team. Someone else may find that uncomfortable and much prefer a quiet conversation. 

For some people, appreciation might look like: 

Private: a personal note, message or quiet thank-you. 

Public: acknowledgement during a team meeting. 

Practical: some flexibility, time or a helping hand on a busy day. 

Playful: a shared laugh or a small team ritual.  

So rather than assuming everyone wants to be recognised in the same way, ask yourself: 

What would make this person feel genuinely appreciated? 

Knowing the people we work alongside is part of making gratitude meaningful. 

Kaiako are often very good at noticing others and not quite so good at recognising themselves. 

Gratitude can also mean pausing to notice what is going well in your own work. 

At the end of the day, try asking yourself three simple questions: 

• What went well today? 
• Who helped me? 
• 
  
• What did I do that made a difference?  

This isn't about boasting or needing praise. It is about giving ourselves permission to notice the good alongside the challenges. 

Recognising our own efforts can help maintain perspective and wellbeing and remind us that our contribution matters too.  

Perhaps the biggest opportunity is to stop thinking about gratitude as something we do occasionally and start thinking about it as a habit. 

Not a programme. 

Not another initiative. 

Just a small, intentional part of how we work together. 

The challenge from the presentation is beautifully simple: 

One person. 

One specific thank-you. 

Every day.