Framingham celebrates the Week of the Young Child

FRAMINGHAM, MA -- From Sunday, April 22nd through Saturday April 28th, Framingham will be celebrating The Week of the Young Child. The week, initiated in 1971 by the National Association for the Education of the Young Child (NAEYC), is celebrated in cities and towns across the country. It focuses community attention on the varied developmental needs of young children and acknowledges the many program and service providers who help our children grow.

The years before kindergarten, birth to five, are a time of unparalleled growth - physical, mental, social and emotional. During these years, learning occurs all the time and everywhere. Enriched environments and varied experiences help maximize growth in all ways.

It really does take a village to raise a child. Framingham is fortunate to have many NAEYC accredited pre-schools, childcare homes and facilities, as well as services and commercial programs that provide a multitude of options and opportunities for our young children. In addition, there are community resources like the town libraries, the YMCA, Garden in the Woods, the Danforth Museum, Civic League, Performing Arts Center, Amazing Things, Parks and Recreation Programs, town beaches, playgrounds and conservation lands. These resources enrich the lives of young children and help to build a better future for them.

The week, sponsored and organized by the Framingham Public Schools/Community partnership for Children, will have a multitude of free events, presentations and prizes for Framingham families who have children 0-5 years old. On Sunday, the week will start with a Storytelling Concert with Leeny Del Seamonds at the main library and the Earth Day Family Celebration at Garden in the Woods. The week will close with a free concert at the library by children’s musician, David Polansky and the MetroWest YMCA’s Healthy Kids Fair. On those days, and all the ones in between, Framingham organizations and businesses will offer a variety of children’s activities, program open houses, and presentations for parents.

Every event is free and open to all Framingham families with young children. Many small gifts and large raffle items will be distributed at events throughout the week, thanks to the generosity of the participating organizations. A full schedule of the week can be found at the Framingham schools’ website, www.framingham.k12.ma.us. Click on “Early Child Links” the “Week of the Young Child - Early Years are Learning Years.” Families are invited and encouraged to participate during the Week of the Young Child and to take advantage of the town’s rich resources throughout the rest of the year as well!