This week is the Week of the Young Child, an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This week was created in 1971 in order to focus the public’s attention to the early childhood programs and services that young children so greatly need. Early childhood years, which are generally considered to be birth through age 8, are vital to a child’s health and development and will lay the foundation for a child’s success in school as well as life. This week is an ideal time to come together as citizens of a community, a state, and a nation to think of ways we can continue to improve the education and services for young children everywhere.

PNC Bank’s Grow Up Great program is just one of many organizations that is committed to celebrating this week. Volunteers from PNC will be reading to children in the classroom, running book and supply drives, and coordinating other team volunteer activities throughout the month to honor what they are calling Great Month.

Additionally, Grow Up Great has been working with their partner, Sesame Street®, to develop a set of “Adventure Cards,” a set of ten bilingual cards that encourage parents and caregivers to help children learn new vocabulary through activities such as gardening or farming. Similarly, they are launching a new Sesame Street podcast series which will follow Abby, Elmo, and Buzz Word on their weekly word adventure. The cards and podcasts are available on www.pncgrowupgreat.com.

Each day, NAEYC has fun activities for your child to do. They ask that everyone shares photos of their activities on Facebook, that way we can connect with others around the world! At ELBS, we are kicking off the celebration on Monday morning with a parade around school! The school will wear purple for the celebration, and children will be asked to describe what school means to them. Other activities during the week include a guest reader, picture sharing from home, digital yoga, and an ice cream and movie party!

How will you celebrate Week of the Young Child?