The Week of the Young Child celebrates educating young children and creating a safe and positive learning environment. Families and childcare providers celebrate this special week to raise awareness for the importance of early childhood education. If you’re looking to partake in the Week of the Young Child in 2024, keep reading.
What is the Week of the Young Child?
Week of the Young Child is sponsored by NAEYC and honors the needs of children and families along with the importance of childcare providers. Each day of the week highlights a different theme and set of activities for children, teachers, and families to celebrate.
When is the Week of the Young Child 2024?
The Week of the Young Child takes place from April 6-12, 2024.
What is the theme of the Week of the Young Child 2024?
The 2024 theme of the Week of the Young Child is ‘Step It Up’. “NAEYC asks its members, centers, higher ed programs, and everyone else in the early education community to Step It Up (SIU) during WOYC.” (naeyc.org)
How to Celebrate the Week of the Young Child 2024
April 6: Kick-Off Saturday
Let’s get WOYC started! Start the week right by getting families and children excited for the upcoming events.
Spread the word: Get the word out about WOYC, celebrations you have planned, and ways families can celebrate on their own. Post on your social media, send a digital newsletter, write a blog post, or film a video. Be sure to use the hashtag: #WOYC24.
Inform parents and families: Send information to parents directly to ensure they’re prepared for the upcoming week. In an email, handout, or text message include information about WOYC, any upcoming events, and any supplies their children might need to participate in activities.
Prepare your activities: You have a busy week ahead so make sure you’re set with your activities and supplies for each day. It helps to have a calendar or spreadsheet outlining each day, each activity, and supplies needed to keep yourself organized.
April 8: Music Monday
Celebrate with music! Music allows children to develop their language and early literacy skills while being active and having fun. Celebrate Music Monday by:
Making up a song: Have your children learn a new song or make up their own!
Learning a dance: Teach your kids a new dance to a fun song like this.
Creating homemade instruments: Let the kids show their creativity by making their own instruments through common household objects.
Having karaoke or hosting a musician: Have your kids sing along to their favorite songs or invite a musician to perform a song at your center.
April 9: Tasty Tuesday
Enjoy Tasty Tuesday with some fun activities and delicious foods. Be sure to encourage healthy nutrition and fitness habits throughout the day!
Try a new recipe: Create a healthy meal and get the kids involved!
Host a themed meal: Try pizzas for breakfast or Taco Tuesday for lunch!
Create a classroom cookbook: Have your kids bring in one of their family’s favorite recipes.
Add these to a book and keep a class copy or make copies for each child to take home.
Eat outside: If the weather permits, take a meal outside and have a picnic!
April 10: Work Together Wednesday
Have the children work together to improve their social skills, learn, and have a sense of accomplishment. Some team-building and kid-friendly ideas to celebrate Work Together Wednesday are:
Sports games: Set teams for the kids and host a few sports games for some fun and exercise.
Obstacle course: Have the kids complete an obstacle course as a class.
Fort building: Use creativity and work together to build a fort in the classroom.
Community service: Help the community by writing cards to the elderly or packing goodie bags for local shelters.
Arts and crafts: Build a craft as a class to spark creativity and learning.
April 11: Artsy Thursday
Encourage creativity on Artsy Thursday!
Create a sensory bin: Include items like Rice, kinetic sand, and playdough to create a great sensory bin.
Have a fashion show: Let your kids dress up in character clothes, costumes, and crazy accessories for a fun fashion show!
Tie-dye: Grab shirts, socks, or hats to tie-dye and let the kids create a crazy design.
Color outside the lines: Prove chalk for the outdoors, markers, crayons, and more for a day of crafts and coloring.
April 12: Family Friday
Round out the Week of the Young Child 2024 by celebrating families.
Build family trees: Grab a free template and work with the children to make their family tree.
Make a collage: Have children bring in copies of family photos to make a collage or have them draw a family portrait.
Encourage quality family time: Encourage families to spend time together through a family dinner, movie night, or game night.
Use these ideas to celebrate the Week of the Young Child in 2024! We encourage you to take time to learn more about the history of Week of the Young Child and take time to advocate for Early Childhood Education. For more information on WOYC from NAEYC, click here.
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