April 13-19, 2008

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.

In Maryland, we celebrate young children throughout the entire month of April! Each MDAEYC local affiliate celebrates the Month of the Young Child differently. The activities throughout the state are listed below.

News: (April 16, 2008) In celebration of the Week of the Young Child, Lynn Baldwin, Executive Director of the Prince George's County Employee Child Care Centers and newly appointed member to the Prince Georges County Commission for Women, and Flora Gee, Public Policy Co-chair for MDAEYC, were invited by Council Member Ingrid Turner to the Prince Georges County Council to accept a proclamation in honor of the event: A Proclamation Whereas, founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), has nearly 100,000 members and a national network of over 300 local, state, and regional affiliates; and Whereas, the Maryland Association for the Education of Young Children (MDAEYC) is an affiliate on NAEYC, the largest organization of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving the quality of early education programs for children birth through age eight; and Whereas, NAEYC encourages state and local governments, early childhood programs, and organizations who work on behalf of young children to plan events in recognition of the "Week of the Young Child"; and Whereas, the "Week of the Young Child", April 13-19, 2008, is held each year to honor young children and thank early childhood teachers and all those who make a difference in the lives of young children; and Whereas, the 2008 theme for the "Week of the Young Child" is 'Bring Communities Together for Children-Children Bring Communities Together'; and Whereas, young children and their families depend on high quality education and care, which help children get a great start, and Prince George's County recognizes the importance of early learning, early literacy, and to celebrate the teachers and policies that bring early childhood education to young children; and Whereas, the Prince George's County Council and the early childhood professionals are working together to improve professional practice and work conditions in early childhood education, and to build public support for high-quality early childhood education programs, NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Proclaimed by the Prince George's County Council that the week of April 13-19, 2008, is declared the "Week of the Young Child". Signed by Ingrid M. Turner, Council Member and Samuel H. Dean, Council Chairman

CMAEYC Celebrates Music and Storytelling

Our next membership event will be held on April 8, 2008, at the Catonsville Presbyterian Church (1400 Frederick Road, Catonsville 21228). The church's child care center director, Nancy Wagner, has graciously offered her facility for our dinner meeting being held in conjunction with NAEYC's Week of the Young Child. Veronica Curry (a.k.a. "Diva Geneva") will help us celebrate music with young children, while Stanley Bunjo of the Enoch Pratt Free Library of Baltimore City will demonstrate storytelling using traditional and multicultural tales, and he will then offer suggestions for using storytelling with children. Dinner will be included for a fee of $5.00. PLEASE JOIN US for a learning experience that what promises to include food, fellowship, and fun! Email Vickie Kaneko for more information or to RSVP.

Eastern Shore AEYC

April 12 we will be celebrating the Week of the Young Child at the Centre in Salisbury from 9:30 to 3:30. We are planning lots of entertainment and hands-on activities for parents and young children. If you would like to reserve a table, please contact Dionne Purnell. The theme will be "Bring Communities together for Young Children - Children Bring Communities Together."

Month of the Young Child (MOYC) events in Montgomery County

Maryland Community AEYC will consoponsor the Family Festivals at Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg MD on Saturday, April 5th, 2008 and Wheaton Mall in Wheaton, MD Saturday, April 26th 2008. Children and families who come to the MCAEYC booth can make paper bag puppets with MCAEYC members. To volunteer, please contact Greg Stevens.

(NAEYC)