First established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 1971, the Week of the Young Child (WOYC) is an opportunity 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.
Over the years, with growing interest and focus, Trying Together designated the entire month of April as the Month of the Young Child (MOYC,) a time during which the dedicated work of early educators can be promoted for the essential role that it plays in our society. The events of the last few years have demonstrated just how important it is to fund, support, and elevate the work of child care.
Trying Together has assembled a month full of opportunities to engage the children, families, and educators in early childhood settings during MOYC. Check back for additional information soon!
Events & Opportunities
Join Us In Celebrating Together
On Thursday, April 30, 2026, join us for Celebrating Together, an evening of formal events including a NEW VIP Reception to present the inaugural Governor Josh Shapiro Keystone Award for Early Childhood Advocacy followed by the 30th Annual Celebration of Early Childhood Educators Dinner with support from PNC Grow Up Great.
Thursday, April 30, 2026
VIP Reception | 4:45 – 6:00 p.m. | Bridges Ballroom
Dinner | 5:45 – 9:00 p.m. | Event Center
Rivers Casino
777 Casino Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, signature cocktails/mocktails, and networking at the VIP Reception while supporting the work of early childhood educators. The Dinner will immediately follow with register-to-win opportunities, photo booths and more. Guests may choose to attend one or both events.
Registration is now open! Get your tickets by April 16, 2026.
To sponsor the VIP Reception and/or Dinner, or to place an ad in the program book, please see our MOYC Sponsor Sheet and program book ad PDFs for more information. For questions, contact Maria Pisano, director of community relations, at maria@tryingtogether.org.
Participate in The NAEYC Week of the Young Child (WOYC)
NAEYC has announced that the WOYC will run from April 11 -17, 2026. Check back on this page soon for information on The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center’s WOYC events during WOYC.
To learn more about WOYC, daily themes, and activity resources, visit NAEYC’s WOYC webpage.
The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center will host daily activities for the Week of the Young Child
- Musical Monday: Open House
April 13 from 4 pm-6:30 pm
Families are invited to an open house at the Homewood Hub & Family Center featuring musical activities courtesy of Playnotes Pgh. Food, refreshments, and fun for the whole family! Come and learn about the Center and have some fun! - Tasty Tuesday, Storytime at the Hub
April 14th from 10:30 am-11:15 am
Join our weekly Storytime at the Hub for a special, fun, food-themed Dinosaur Experience! Raaawr! - Work Together Wednesday: Drop-In Play
April 15th: 11 am-1 pm
The Hub is teaming up with special guest Holy Cross Homewood & Reading is Fundamental(RIF) Storymobile for a joint storytime and activity during drop-in play hours. After the activity, families are welcome to Stay and play! - Family Collage Thursday
April 16th at either 10 am-12 pm or 3 pm-5 pm to add to the collage!
Join the Hub & Family Center Staff to help create a special Center collage featuring artistic creations and family photos! Feel free to bring printed photos of your family! The finished collage will be displayed inside the Center! - Family Fun Night Friday: Line Dancing w/ Attack Theatre
April 17th from 6 pm-7:30 pm
Enjoy an evening of fun, food, and line dancing featuring special guest Attack Theatre as we close out the Week of the Young Child in style with a movement-based Family Fun Night! Registration is required – register here
Submit Your MOYC-in-a-Box Requests
Trying Together is now accepting requests from child care programs to receive a box of Month of the Young Child (MOYC) materials. Boxes will be mailed or delivered to programs by their Quality Coach before April 1, 2026. The request form is now closed.
Attend the Student Affiliate Dinner
The Annual Student Affiliate Dinner will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Westmoreland County Community College in collaboration with Carlow University. Registration is now open.
Attend the PennAEYC VOICE for Children Celebration
Join PennAEYC (the Pennsylvania affiliate for NAEYC) for their annual 2026 Voice for Children Awards taking place on Friday, April 10, 2026 at the Hershey Lodge from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Early bird and regular registration will open in January 2026. Save the date, and check PennAEYC’s website for additional event details.
Indiana County’s Week of the Young Child
The Week of the Young Child will kick off on Saturday, April 11 with a proclamation at the Indiana County Courthouse. This will be followed by a walk to the Indiana Free Library. Children’s activities – including storytime, crafts, and a STEAM Play Day – will be offered at the event, which begins at 10 a.m. For more information on the event, check out this flyer from the Children’s Advisory Commission of Indiana County.
Butler County Week of the Young Child: Early Learning is Dino-Mite!
Butler County will celebrate the Week of the Young Child with Early Learning is Dino-Mite!, which will run from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 at The Monarch Training Institute, located at 100 Brugh Avenue in Butler.
The free event, which is aimed at children from birth to grade school, will include four live programs, music therapy, dinosaur yoga, storytime, free books, prizes, snacks, and a photo opportunity with a dinosaur. Every family that attends will receive a copy of Ame Dyckman’s “Don’t Blow Your Top.”
For more information, check out the event’s flyer.
Share Your Celebrations With Us
Follow Trying Together on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn! If you’re hosting a Month of the Young Child or Week of the Young Child celebration, tag us on social media with the hashtags #TryingTogether and #MOYC2026.
Community College of Allegheny County Career Fair
The Community College of Allegheny County will hold a career fair from noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29 in the gym of its Allegheny campus.
Employers that will attend the fair include Aflac, Allegheny County, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, City of Pittsburgh, Concordia Visiting Nurses, Dollar Bank, Giant Eagle, JCC of Greater Pittsburgh, Metro One LPSG, Nordstrom, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Sheetz, St. Clair Health, Trying Together, United States Army, WQED, and others.
Students can register for the fair and view the full list of employers by logging into their Handshake account by using their CCAC username and password.
Share Your Part of NAEYC’s Story
NAEYC is celebrating its centennial this year and marking the milestone by collecting the stories that have shaped early childhood education. During 2026, NAEYC will celebrate the Year of Reflections, which will give educators an invitation to share their memories and the moments that made them who they are as an educator as well as their dreams for the next generation. Those interested in participating can share their story online.