Week of the Young Child Events
Submitted by Kasey Kile
The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children celebrating learning, young children, their teachers and families. To bring awareness to the event, KAEYC sold Week of the Young Child shirts to be worn by participants throughout the week.
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| Board Members (L-R) with their Week of the Young Child shirts: Michelle Gilbert, Kasey Kile, Chelsea Mitchell, Kelly Livingston, Beka Meitler |
To further our advocacy of the importance of quality child care, KAEYC sponsored communities hosting Week of the Young Child events and provided utility flags to represent each child in licensed child care in their community.
Below are the communities that participated this year!
Lyons County
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| Flags displayed in Lyon County! |
Emporia hosted events throughout the month!
-April 2 | Teddy Bear Clinic
-April 4 | St. Francis Community Services Resource Fair
-April 9 | Crawl, Walk, Run for Emporia Childcare
-April 16 | Car Seat Safety Check Lane
-April 19 | Family Fun Night
-April 22 | Up, Down & Around and Child Abuse Prevention Summit
-April 23 | Community Baby Shower
-April 2 | Teddy Bear Clinic
-April 4 | St. Francis Community Services Resource Fair
-April 9 | Crawl, Walk, Run for Emporia Childcare
-April 16 | Car Seat Safety Check Lane
-April 19 | Family Fun Night
-April 22 | Up, Down & Around and Child Abuse Prevention Summit
-April 23 | Community Baby Shower
Heartland AEYC
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| Flags displayed at Sunset Zoo Each flag represents 6,126 children in licensed care in Riley, Clay, Pottawatomie, and Geary Counties. |
Heartland AEYC displayed the flags at Sunset Zoo throughout the week. Along with displaying flags, Heartland AEYC hosted a Provider Appreciation Event and set up events throughout the week based upon the themes.
Music Monday: Music and dancing in the park with the K-State Classy Cats
Taco Tuesday: Eating at Qdoba
Work Together Wednesday: Go on a litter walk
Artsy Thursday: Create a yummy dessert at Orange Leaf
Famy Friday: Go to the park and enjoy an evening with your family
Shawnee County
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| Shawnee County had assistance from Christ the King Early Education Center! |
Along with displaying flags, KAEYC had a wonderful music event at the Kansas Children's Discovery Center in Topeka. It was estimated that over 500 families were in attendance! Below is a wonderful article from WIBW regarding the event:
Douglas County
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| Pictured Left to Right Lane Eisenbart (DCCDA), Anna Jenny (DCCDA), Tara Glanton (Children's Learning Center), Amy Gottschamer (Goggols of Learning), and Shanna Todd (Goggols of Learning) |
Douglas County Child Development Association displayed flags representing those children served in child care in Douglas County!
Wichita State University
Wichita State University Child Development Center placed flags outside of their facility to represent the children served!
