May is Respite Awareness Month. As part of that, Provider Appreciation Day is Friday, which gives parents and guardians a special day to thank their childcare providers and to show how much they appreciate them.

Research shows that high-quality early childhood experiences can offer lifelong benefits for children, not to mention daily peace of mind for parents who have childcare they can trust, said a press release CARE Connections of Southwestern Oregon Community College.

Ways to recognize Provider Appreciation Day include flowers, a card, a handwritten note, a gift certificate or a remembrance from the parent and child.

Respite Awareness Month is a time for family caregivers who provide short or long-term care to their family members to speak up about the critical importance of respite to them.

Community members and civic organizations can raise their “respite awareness” and to talk constructively about how to better support local caregivers and families in need of a break.

Employers and the South Coast business community are urged to recognize the significant contributions of childcare providers and all other caregivers, who support the work force in so many ways, a press release said.