As an educator or administrator, you’ve probably heard of Week of the Young Child®, the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) annual celebration of early childhood education.
NAEYC first launched the Week of the Young Child® in 1971 in order to increase awareness about the importance of early childhood education while recognizing the existing early childhood programs that provide support and resources to young children and their families. Still going strong after more than 50 years, this annual event continues to draw attention to existing resources while also illuminating gaps that exist, such as affordable childcare.
This year’s Week of the Young Child® will take place April 1 - 7th, 2023.
If your community doesn’t currently mark this special week, the NAEYC offers a toolkit with action steps on how to change that.
There are many ways to celebrate Week of the Young Child®; some communities have held festivals and parades, while others have used the time to advocate for quality early childcare and education. Some communities have decided a week isn’t long enough and have stretched out the celebration to cover the entire month of April! While the NAEYC invites communities to come up with their own unique ways to celebrate and advocate for early childhood education, they’ve created a themed schedule that can serve as a jumping off point when brainstorming for activities.
Music Monday
Music Monday provides an opportunity to kickoff the week using sound, music and movement. Examples of last year’s Music Monday activities include children making their own maracas, listening to music from different cultures and the simple yet delightful ritual of throwing a dance party.
Tasty Tuesday
The possibilities for incorporating food into the curriculum are endless– activities could integrate subjects like math, nutrition, foreign language and farming. You could start an indoor microgreen garden and harvest it with your students, ask kids to share favorite family recipes or embark on a baking project.
Work Together Wednesday
Work Together Wednesday is all about collaboration, teamwork and team-building. For instance, last year, one community created a yoga lesson where pre-k students and third graders partnered for Work (out) Wednesday. Other possibilities include initiating a community service project or a group art project.
Artsy Thursday
Thursday is a celebration of creativity. Successful past Artsy Thursday activities include preschoolers creating self-portraits, going for a nature walk to collect and then paint rocks, and a project where students virtually collaborated with older adults to create masterpieces made with marbles and paint.
Family Friday
The last day of activities focuses on bringing families of young children into the fun– and the learning. Parents might visit a preschool to accompany their kids on a nature walk or stop by school for a family lunch picnic.For more ideas on how to get involved and plan activities for Week of the Young Child®, visit the NAEYC website. If your school or community has a favorite way of celebrating, leave us a comment and let us know!