Celebrating the Week of the Young Child

The annual Week of the Young Child (WOYC) was held April 2-9 this year and celebrated internationally by many. 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). This year marked the 51^st WOYC and children ages 0-5 and their families enrolled at Bennington County Head Start/ Early Head Start centers in Bennington, North Bennington, and Pownal joined in the celebrations.

On Music Monday, children sang new songs, danced, made instruments and held classroom parades, and even made binoculars to dance to a new going on a bear hunt. On Tasty Tuesday, children tried new snacks and held taste tests. Preschoolers made their own snacks. Infants and toddlers explored new fruit and vegetables toys. The program was honored to provide a tasty lunch to all staff, thanking them for their work with children and families.

On Work Together Wednesday, classrooms planned group experiences for children to work together on a variety of activities and projects. Infants and toddlers started their green bean gardens from seed and made collage murals in their classrooms.

Preschoolers worked together in cooperative games both indoors and out. Also, on Work Together Wednesday, we proudly recognize the hard work and contributions of each staff member. Staff had some fun this week, entering a raffle of twenty-nine gift experiences in support of staff wellness, from a restaurant meal or coffee to active experiences like yoga, tennis, or golf, to self-care experiences of salon services, spa pedicures, and massage. We celebrated the winners and value each staff member. 

On Artsy Thursday, children of all ages used a variety of mediums, creating artwork from stamping and ink, watercolors, color mixing, three dimensional butterflies.
Family Friday rounded out the week! We celebrated families as a child’s first and most important teacher, taking family pictures and using the large frames created and decorated by the children as a keepsake to remember all the fun we had this week.

Written by Rebecca L. Bishop, Assistant Director of United Children’s Services .