Your turn: It's Week of the Young Child. Let’s celebrate our kids
This week, the YWCA Northwestern Illinois is participating in the Week of the Young Child, an annual celebration hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, putting a spotlight on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.
This is a time to plan how we — as citizens of a community, of a state, and of a nation—can better meet the needs of all children and their families.
Today, we know more than ever before about the importance of children's earliest years in shaping their learning and development. Yet, never have the needs of young children and their families been more pressing.
Take the time to recognize that each child’s opportunities are our responsibilities, and to recommit to ensuring that every child experiences the type of early environment — at home, at childcare, at school, and in the community — that will promote their early learning and recognize their successes.
Celebrating children’s success is a wonderful way to encourage and nourish their growth and development. By praising their wins, no matter how big or small, parents and educators unlock one of the most powerful tools to support and connect with their kids in their continued development.
At YWCA Northwestern Illinois, our mission-driven services continue to evolve to meet the needs of women, children and families in Rockford, and the counties of Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson, and Jo Daviess.
Our programs in La Voz Latina — Family Advocacy Center, Healthy Families Home Visiting Program, and Illinois Welcoming Center — support families and young children on a greater scale by providing services such as parenting classes, crisis intervention, and many more.
In response to a need for quality child care, the YWCA Child Care Resource and Referral Program was founded in 1991 to provide child care referrals and consumer education to parents, offer training opportunities and technical assistance to child care providers, work to develop new child care options and assist employers in meeting their employees’ child care needs.
Since then, we have continued working together with our community partners to create a coordinated system that supports and strengthens families and prepares children to succeed in their everyday lives. So, I challenge — and encourage — you to celebrate our kids.
On April 15, join the Week of the Young Child Cooperative, along with YWCA Northwestern Illinois, UW Health and Alpine Academy of Rockford, for a free family fun fair from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the UW Health Sports Factory in Rockford.
We are excited to host a fun-filled event celebrating young children and their families with hands-on, collaborative activities, community resources, and entertainment provided by The Headspin Guy!
As we celebrate children and their everyday successes, and the families, childcare providers, and services that support them, you may be asking yourself what part you can play in this seemingly insurmountable task. But there are dozens of opportunities to volunteer and invest in programs and initiatives that support the success of our next generation.
Consider volunteering in schools, donating food for children to take home for weekend meals, providing financial support that will help fund programs like the YWCA Child Care Resource & Referral Program. We can all make a difference to support children’s learning and development, strengthen our families, and build up the community we share while celebrating our kids every step of the way.
Kristian Wanland is the director of family services at the YWCA Northwestern Illinois, serving women, children and families in Boone, Jo Daviess, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties. Wanland is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and has been with the YWCA since 2015.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Your turn: It's Week of the Young Child. Let’s celebrate our kids
