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Week of the Young Child, Friday, April 17, 2009 Week of the Young Child is held each year to honor young children and thank early childhood teachers and all those who make a difference in young children’s lives. The theme for Week of the Young Child 2009 is: Bring Communities Together for Children --- Children Bring Communities Together. The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world's largest early childhood education organization, with nearly 100,000 members and a network of over 300 local, state, and regional Affiliates. The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. NAEYC first established the Week of the Young Child in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years (birth through age 8) lay the foundation for children's success in school and later life. The Week of the Young Child is a time to plan how we--as citizens of a community, of a state, and of a nation--will better meet the needs of all young children and their families. The Week of the Young Child is a time to recognize that children's opportunities are our responsibilities, and to recommit ourselves to ensuring that each and every child experiences the type of early environment--at home, at child care, at school, and in the community--that will promote their early learning. How do people celebrate Week of the Young Child? Celebrations typically take place within communities and cities and are planned and promoted by local NAEYC Affiliate groups around the country. It is an opportunity for early childhood programs across the country, including child care and Head Start programs, preschools and elementary schools, to hold activities to bring awareness to the needs of young children. Today we know more than ever before about the importance of children's earliest years in shaping their learning and development. Yet, never before have the needs of young children and their families been more pressing. Young children and their families depend on high-quality education and care, which help children get a great start and bring lasting educational benefits. 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. For more information, go to the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s website at www.naeyc.org or the Iowa Affiliate group website at www.iowaaeyc.org. For information about AEA early childhood services, contact your area education agency. |