IOWA LAKES STUDENTS JOIN NATIONAL CELEBRATION
OF WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD

The Child Care Club of Iowa Lakes Community College will join hundreds of local organizations around the country to celebrate Week of the Young Child, April 18-24.

Week of the Young Child honors the more than 35 million children from birth through age eight in America, and the families, teachers and other adults who help children make the most of the opportunities of their early years.

"Research and experience clearly show that children's earliest years are crucial learning years," said Marsha Swanson, Child Care Club Advisor.  "Week of the Young Child is a chance to celebrate the learning opportunities of young children, and to recognize the responsibilities we share for helping them make the most of those opportunities."

Week of the Young Child celebrations around the country will promote high-quality child care, preschool and other early education opportunities for young children, and honor the teachers and administrators who work to improve those programs. Hundreds of early education programs around the country - including child care and Head Start programs, preschools and elementary schools - will be celebrating Week of the Young Child in different ways, such as community fairs, open houses, and political rallies.

In this region, the Child Care Club will be distributing 'read a book' coupons to children in the students' practicum locations; designing and setting up a display about child abuse prevention near the front entrance of the Emmetsburg Campus; planning and presenting an activity for the Campus Head Start children; and, arranging for a mayoral proclamation in Emmetsburg. 

Students are also organizing a visit to Emmetsburg by Tanya Brown who will speak on domestic violence.  Presentations on April 26 will focus on efforts to prevent domestic violence.

"Week of the Young Child is a time to remember that if we want our children to succeed, we need to support the teachers and programs that give them a great start." said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., Executive Director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Students in the Child Care Club work together to build public support for high-quality early childhood education programs. Faculty and sophomore club members are members of 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. Founded in 1926, NAEYC now has more than 100,000 members and a national network of nearly 450 local, state, and regional affiliates.