News

April 1, 2021

Month of the Young Child Celebrations Begin

First established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 1971, the Week of the Young Child 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). MOYC is a time to plan how we will better meet the needs of all young children, families, caregivers, and early care and education professionals.

 


 

Join the Celebration

To celebrate the Month of the Young Child virtually, Trying Together has developed several opportunities for community members to participate from home, including the following:

 

Virtual Annual Celebration

Trying Together will host a free Virtual Annual Celebration from April 27 – 29, 2021 to celebrate the important work of early childhood. Early educators, families, and other individuals who support young children are invited to enjoy:

    • LIVE Happy Together Half-Hour interactive sessions;
    • a presentation from Trying Together Executive Director Cara Ciminillo;
    • a presentation from keynote speaker Dr. Denisha Jones;
    • and more!

One gift box will be mailed by Friday, April 9 for each person who completes their registration by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 4, 2021. Registration will remain open until 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 26, 2021. Individuals who register after April 4 will not receive a gift box.

To learn more, visit the MOYC webpage.

Social Media Activities

1. Take a few minutes to “shout out” or give “props” to an early care and education professional or program on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram:

    • make sure to tag their account (if possible);
    • share personal stories and pictures; and
    • include the hashtags #MOYC2021 and #TryingTogether to ensure other participants can view your story!
    • Example: I’d like to say thank you to @amymiller for the wonderful work she’s been doing for the past four months to support my child’s learning and healthy development! My child still can’t stop talking about the caterpillar craft he did last month! 🐛🦋 #MOYC2021

2. Consider sharing your personal story as a parent, caregiver, or early care and education professional on social media using the hashtags #MyStory and #MOYC2021.

    • Reflect on your experiences during 2020-21 and highlight the stories that make you smile, laugh, or feel proud. MOYC is a time of celebration and there is no better way to celebrate than by connecting with each other through our stories.

3. Take a trip back in time by scrolling or looking through old early childhood pictures, whether they are of yourself or a loved one.

    • Think back to that moment and cherish the memory of that time. You can also take this time to reflect on the growth of that young person.
    • Find a photo that stands out to you and share it on social media using the hashtags #MyStory and #MOYC2021. Take this opportunity to share a fond memory with others!

4. Use the Month of the Young Child Social Media Toolkit to access customizable social media templates, graphics, and more!

Phone and Email Activities

1. If you have their phone number or email, contact your favorite early learning professionals and let them know how much you appreciate the work they do every day to support young children, parents, caregivers, and the workforce.

    • Make a goal early in the month to contact a certain number of educators by the end of April. Let us know what your goal is on social media using #SendingThanks and #MOYC2021.
    • Example: I’m celebrating #MOYC2021 by #SendingThanks to three early learning professionals to highlight how their work has inspired and helped me in my day-to-day interactions with young children. Will you join me? 📞💌

Celebrate Yourself

1. Find ways to unwind and celebrate yourself this month.

    • Cook your favorite meal, watch something that makes you laugh, or try out that new online relaxation class you’ve been talking about. The opportunities are endless!
    • Share how you’re celebrating you during the Month of the Young Child by using the hashtags #CelebrateMe and #MOYC2021 on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
    • Look through the thread to see how other educators are celebrating and find new ideas!
    • Example: For #MOYC2021, I’m choosing to #CelebrateMe by dedicating 30 minutes per day to reading books that I’m interested in. Adventure, sci-fi, maybe some poetry. Let’s see where this journey goes! #TryingTogether

2. Host a Zoom or online meeting with a small group of your fellow early learning professionals and share what you’re proud of accomplishing over the last year.

    • This can include creative lesson ideas, situations that you handled well, or even new teaching techniques to name a few! Take this time to celebrate your own and each other’s successes.
    • If you plan on sharing about it on social media, use the hashtags #CelebrateMe, #MOYC2021, or #TryingTogether.

Share Your Story

Has child care, an early learning program, or a teacher helped your family or child? Record a 30-second video to share your story with us!

NAEYC Week of the Young Child

1. Celebrate the daily themes featured during the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Week of the Young Child (WOYC).

    • Kick-Off Saturday (April 10, 2021): Get your preparations together for a week of fun early childhood celebrations! Make a list of your celebration plans and share a picture (or screenshot) of it on social media using #WOYC21 and #MOYC2021!
    • Music Monday (April 12, 2021): Celebrate music and early literacy by sharing a picture or video of your favorite music-based activity. Highlight why music and early literacy matter to you! Use #WOYC21 and #MOYC2021 to join the thread!
    • Tasty Tuesday (April 13, 2021): Celebrate the ways that health, science, nutrition, and fitness fuel the early learning community by sharing a picture of your favorite experiment, lesson, or exercise using #WOYC21 and #MOYC2021.
    • Work Together Wednesday (April 14, 2021): Celebrate teamwork and collaboration by sharing a picture of your child(ren)’s collaborative creations, whether it is an art piece, a blanket fort, a block tower, or something else! Use #WOYC21 and #MOYC2021 to join the conversation.
    • Artsy Thursday (April 15, 2021): Join the early childhood community in celebrating art by hosting a “virtual class!” Record a short video walkthrough of your favorite art activity and share it on social media using #WOYC21 and #MOYC2021!
    • Family Friday (April 16, 2021): Celebrate the importance of positive relationships by sharing your favorite family photos and stories on social media using #WOYC21 and #MOYC2021! Tag a friend and challenge them to share as well!

 


 

Signup to Receive Updates

If you’re interested in receiving updates on Month of the Young Child, like our Facebook pagefollow our Twitter, or signup to receive the Trying Together newsletter.