Every April WJCS Early Childhood Programs celebrate the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Week of the Young Child. The NAEYC established this event in 1971 to recognize that early childhood years lay the foundation for children’s success in school and in life. We have now expanded the celebration to include El Dia de los Ninos, Children’s Day. Children in many Latin American countries go to school on April 30th and spend the day celebrating with pinatas, and other treats. WJCS will not offer candy at our celebrations, but we will have snacks, crowns, and books for all of the children who attend.
We celebrated El Dia de los Ninos remotely last year due to the pandemic. Families, librarians, and WJCS staff are looking forward to coming together in person this year. Librarians will conduct special story times and offer tours of the children’s libraries. They are excited to tell families about their wonderful free programming. This year we will also be acknowledging the fact that April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. Information and resources will be provided to all families in WJCS Early Childhood Programs, even if they are not able to attend one of our many planned events.
Families in the ParentChild+ home visiting program will celebrate El Dia de los Ninos at home with their Early Learning Specialists in addition to attending the library events. They will be reading the bi-lingual “Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day; Celebremos El Dia de los Ninos/El Dia de los Libros” by Pat Mora and Rafael Lopez. The book adds the celebration of reading and using your imagination to the celebration of El Dia de los Ninos.
The Family Child Care Provider Program will be celebrating El Dia de los Ninos by inviting working parents to zoom in during one of our regular bi-weekly sessions. They will listen to Providers and their Early Learning Specialist read the book “Lola at the Library” by Anna McQuinn and Rosalind Beardshaw to the children. Last year one of the childcare programs had a sing-a-long, with parents adding song requests to the group chat. It was a lot of fun, and we plan to replicate it this April.
The New Rochelle and Tarrytown Parent Child Centers and the Infant Toddler Learning Center will also celebrate El Dia de los Ninos with special guests. Marissa Boan, a local children’s book author will be reading one of her books to the children in Tarrytown, and Noam Bramson, the Mayor of New Rochelle will be reading to the children at the New Rochelle PCC. Families who attend ITLC will be visiting the Yonkers Public Library for a story time with special guest, Mayor Mike Spano. WJCS Early Childhood staff can’t wait to celebrate together with young children and their families this year!
