It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, it’s not Christmas (although I do LOVE Christmas)... it’s Week of the Young Child—a week dedicated to highlighting the importance of early childhood education.
This special week is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world’s largest early education association. Across the country, early education centers celebrate with activities and events tailored to the families and children they serve. While NAEYC offers suggested themes for each day, communities are encouraged to choose themes that best fit their needs (for an introduction to this year’s themes, check out the NAEYC WOYC website).
I remember asking my parents as a child, “When is Kids’ Day?” After all, there was Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and even Grandparents’ Day, but no Kids’ Day. Their response was always the same: “Every day is Kids’ Day.” To some extent, that was true in our family. My parents gave us a childhood full of learning and exploration. We were always playing and making messes. During the spring and summer, we practically lived outside, creating memories and having fun.
I smile when I think back on those times, but I’m also aware that not all children had or have a childhood like that. Events like Week of the Young Child help raise awareness of the importance of early childhood experiences. For me, every week should be Week of the Young Child, and every day should be Kids’ Day. And I’m not alone in this belief.
On November 20, 1959, the United Nations proclaimed the "Declaration on the Rights of the Child," listing ten principles related to children’s rights. One of my favorites is Principle 7:
“The child is entitled to receive education, which shall be free and compulsory, at least in the elementary stages. He shall be given an education which will promote his general culture and enable him, on a basis of equal opportunity, to develop his abilities, his individual judgment, and his sense of moral and social responsibility, and to become a useful member of society. The best interests of the child shall be the guiding principle of those responsible for his education and guidance; that responsibility lies in the first place with his parents. The child shall have full opportunity for play and recreation, which should be directed to the same purposes as education; society and the public authorities shall endeavor to promote the enjoyment of this right.”
All children have the right to an education, and just as important, the right to play. How are we ensuring that ALL children are guaranteed these rights? What are we doing to help?
One organization I LOVE (and talk about every year during Week of the Young Child) is KaBoom! This organization works with communities to create environments where play thrives. KaBoom! partners with cities and towns to increase play opportunities by helping them fundraise, design, and build playgrounds. Their goal is to ensure that every child has a place to play within walking distance of their home. KaBoom! recently built their 3,000th playground and shows no signs of slowing down. They even released their “Play Everywhere Playbook,” a resource guide for community leaders, businesses, nonprofits, and development organizations. I highly recommend checking them out and using their resources to inspire play in your community!
This post is an edited version of an original blog post I previously published.
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