NAEYC AzAEYC Week of the Young Child, or WOYC, is an annual celebration hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and AzAEYC celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, and families. This week-long celebration was established in 1971 by NAEYC to recognize that the early childhood years lay the foundation for later success in life.
The Week of the Young Child™ is a celebratory effort 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. This celebration aligns with our mission: to promote high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy and research.
Scholarly and academic research continue to show the value of high-quality early development opportunities for young children, their families, and society.
NAEYC designates the Week of the Young Child™ dates and theme, but events are planned and implemented by local communities right here in Arizona. Celebrations are organized and coordinated by regional, state, and local NAEYC Affiliates and our chapters and by individual early childhood programs and community organizations providing services to young children and families.
Communities around Arizona have tailored celebrations to meet the needs in their own areas. WOYC is often celebrated in libraries, community centers and other places where young children grow and thrive. In addition to the ideas below, many other creative ways to celebrate can be found on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook and among early childhood teachers and parents. Celebrating can be as simple as displaying artwork by young children, setting up a special display of books, cooking a community snack. Some communities have organized town parades or festivals. They might assemble booths representing all of the early childhood agencies and other services. Others have involved their local officials and organized ceremonies with public proclamations or arranged press conferences. It’s really up to you!
Why celebrate WOYC in Arizona?
As we celebrate the Week of the Young Child™, we are advancing a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate and work on behalf of young children. It’s a time to recognize that children’s opportunities are our responsibilities! Every year, we seek to recommit to making sure each and every child in Arizona experiences the type of early environment—at home, at child care, at school, and in the community—that will promote their early learning. Join us in celebrating!
WOYC is April 11-17, 2020. #woyc20
WOYC Kick-off Saturday
Ready for #WOYC20 in Arizona? To help prepare, we’re putting together a list of activities to plan for a week of celebration! We hope everyone can take some time to reorganize and re-energize so that we’re all ready for the week ahead. Activities COMING SOON!
WOYC Music Monday! April 13, 2020
Sing, dance, celebrate, and learn!
Through music, children develop math, language, and literacy skills – All while having fun and being active! Create and record your own unique version of a song or write your own, and share it on AzAEYC’s Facebook page, NAEYC’s Facebook page and post to Twitter using the hashtag #woyc20.
TRY THIS: Find the beat to connect music, movement, and math. Practice clapping, drumming, or stomping to the beat of the music while counting.
WOYC Tasty Tuesday! April 14, 2020
Enjoy healthy eating and fitness both at home and school!
This fun, food-themed day is about more than just cheese and crackers. Cooking together connects math with literacy skills, science, and more. With the rise in childhood obesity, you can encourage healthy nutrition and fitness habits at home and in the classroom. Create your own healthy snacks and share the recipes and photos of your creations on AzAEYC’s Facebook page, NAEYC’s Facebook page and post to Twitter using the hashtag #woyc20.
TRY THIS: Measure your ingredients while making your snacks! Ask children if they’d like the same or different amounts of each ingredient.
WOYC Work Together Wednesday April 15, 2020
Work together, build together, learn together!
When children build together they explore math and science concepts and develop their social and early literacy skills. Children can use any building material—from a fort of branches on the playground to a block city in the classroom, or a hideaway made from couch pillows at home. Build and share pictures of children’s creations onshare it on AzAEYC’s Facebook page, NAEYC’s Facebook page and post to Twitter using the hashtag#woyc20.
TRY THIS: Practice organizing blocks by size! Try building a block tower with large blocks on the bottom and little blocks on top!
WOYC Artsy Thursday April 16, 2020
Think, problem solve, create!
Children develop creativity, social skills and fine motor skills with open-ended art projects where they can make choices, use their imaginations, and create with their hands. On Artsy Thursday celebrate the joy and learning children experience when engaged in creative art making. Use any materials—from crayons to paint, clay to crafts! Create and share a photos of your children’s creations on AzAEYC’s Facebook page, NAEYC’s Facebook page and post to Twitter using the hashtag ##woyc20.
TRY THIS: Bring art outdoors! Offer dark and light paper, chalk and pastels, and suggest children create their own versions of the day and night sky!
WOYC Family Friday April 17, 2020
Sharing family stories together!
Engaging and celebrating families is at the heart of supporting our youngest learners. NAEYC applauds family members’ role as young children’s first and most important teachers. Share pictures and stories about your family on AzAEYC’s Facebook page, NAEYC’s Facebook page and post to Twitter using the hashtag ##woyc20. as we celebrate the unique role families play in their children’s learning and development.
