Month of the
Young Child
All around the Hoosier state, Month of the Young Child activities are organized and promoted by members of the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children, Inc. (Indiana AEYC).
All around the Hoosier state
All around the Hoosier state, Month of the Young Child activities are organized and promoted by members of the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children, Inc. (Indiana AEYC). As the state affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Indiana AEYC has 10 chapters with more than 2,000 members who are working to improve the lives of young children and those who care for and educate them.
NAEYC proclaims Week of the Young Child™, which focuses public attention on the needs of young children and their families and recognizes the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. Week of the Young Child is a time to plan how we, as citizens of a community, a state, and a nation, will better meet the needs of all young children and their families. Week of the Young Child serves as a time to reaffirm our commitment, that every child experience the type of early environment that promotes learning. Across all environments, including at home, in childcare, in school, and the community.
NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child™ April 6-12, 2024
2023 Indiana Week of the Young Child Proclamation™
Indiana Department of Education and INAEYC Public Display
Each year, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (Indiana AEYC) observes the Week of the Young Child, celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities. In 2024, this celebration will occur from Saturday, April 6 through Friday, April 12. In recognition of this occasion, the Indiana Department of Education and Indiana AEYC are organizing a public, visual display at the Indiana Statehouse reflective of the work of early learning educators and students across Indiana. To share more of the display, a virtual gallery is also available.
Take a look at the daily focus for the Week of the Young Child™
Make up and record your own unique version for each of these categories, and share it on NAEYC’s Facebook page or post to Twitter using the hashtag #WOYC24.
Sing, dance, celebrate, and learn
When children sing, dance and listen to music, they develop their language and early literacy skills while being active and encouraging movement. Make up and record your own unique version of a song or write your own and share it on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag #woyc24.
TRY THIS: Find the beat to connect music, movement, and math. Practice clapping, drumming, or stomping to the beat of the music while counting.
Healthy eating and fitness 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 Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag #woyc24.
TRY THIS: Measure your ingredients while making your snacks! Ask children if they’d like the same or different amounts of each ingredient.
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 creation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag #woyc24.
TRY THIS: Practice organizing blocks by size! Try building a block tower with large blocks on the bottom and little blocks on top!
Think, problem solve, create
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 photos of your children’s creations of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag #woyc24.
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!
Sharing family stories
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 Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag #woyc24.
TRY THIS: Invite parents for a Family Friday breakfast, where children can prepare and share breakfast treats with their families!
Downloadable Resources
MOYC WOYC Toolkit
Event Planning Handbook
WOYC FAQs
By participating in this event and posting video and/or photos, you are representing that you have written permission from each person in the video and/or photos, and if a child, written permission from the child’s parent or legal guardian, to post the video and/or photos and use the likeness of such person therein. By posting the video and/or photos, you grant INAEYC and/or NAEYC the right to use the video and/or photo and/or any portion thereof in any manner it so chooses, including, without limitation, posting or sharing the video on INAEYC’s and/or NAEYC’s website, Facebook page or Twitter account.