Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Week of the Young Child Celebration

The National Association for the Education of Young Children, along with many early childhood facilities and programs, celebrates the Week of the Young Child from April 11-17, 2011. This is a week to honor young children and all those who make a difference in children’s lives. The theme to this year’s events is: “Early Years are the Learning Years.

This is a great time for early childhood programs across the state, including child care family homes, centers, Head Start programs, preschools, and elementary schools to hold activities to bring awareness to the needs of young children. Week of the Young Child is a time to recognize the importance of early learning and early literacy, and to celebrate the teachers and policies that bring early childhood education to young children.

Across the central region of Missouri there are over 1,000 various types of programs that bring some type of early care and education to children, birth to eight years old. Early childhood professionals need to work together to improve professional practice and working conditions in early childhood education, and to build public support for high-quality early childhood education programs.

There are many activities that will be held in the central region of Missouri to celebrate this week:
April 7 - Columbia Provider appreciation and awards dinner
April 14 - Jefferson City Provider appreciation dinner
April 14 - Mexico Provider recognition and reception
April 16 - Rolla Provider appreciation breakfast and child care workshop

Other activities happening this week are kite days, downtown strolls, library activities, parades, and articles in various newspapers across the area.

If you are interested in more information about any of these events or want to share something you are doing to celebrate during this time, please contact Joanne Nelson, Central Region Coordinator for Child Care Aware® of Central Missouri at joanne@mo.childcareaware.org, 573-445-5437 or 800-243-9685.

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