Celebrating the Week of the Young Child 2025: A Fresh Take on Honoring Early Childhood
The Week of the Young Child (WOYC) is a time to celebrate our youngest learners and the incredible educators, families, and communities that nurture them. Every April, we focus on the magic of early childhood, but this year, let’s do something unexpected—let’s celebrate through their eyes.
What if, instead of just planning activities for children, we took a step back and asked:
How do young children experience the world?
What makes them feel truly seen and loved?
How can we honor childhood in a way that feels as joyful and imaginative as they are?
Reimagining Each Day of WOYC Through a Child’s Perspective
Instead of just following the usual themes, let’s dive deeper into the heart of childhood and create moments that children will remember—not just activities to check off a list.
Music Monday: The Soundtrack of Childhood
Forget just playing songs—what if we turned the whole day into a musical adventure?
Create a “heartbeat symphony” by recording the sounds children love—laughter, footsteps, the crinkle of a snack bag.
Let kids be the band by handing them unexpected instruments: pots, spoons, bubble wrap, or even their own voices!
End the day with a "Lullaby Lounge," where teachers sing softly to children while they rest—because music isn’t just about energy, it’s about comfort, too.
Tasty Tuesday: A Sensory Food Celebration
Food is one of the earliest ways children experience the world, but instead of just making snacks, let’s focus on the story behind what we eat.
Bring in a grandparent or family member to share a childhood recipe—let children hear the memories that come with it.
Have a "Texture Tasting" where kids feel, smell, and listen to crunchy, squishy, and smooth foods before eating them.
Encourage “food storytelling” by letting kids make up silly stories about where their fruits and veggies came from (Maybe that carrot was a superhero?).
Work Together Wednesday: The Power of Tiny Helpers
Children love to be included in real tasks, not just play versions of them. This year, let’s make them feel like essential members of the classroom and community.
Set up “grown-up jobs”: kids can check off attendance, water plants, or set up snack time.
Partner with a local senior center for an intergenerational project, like making kindness cards or planting a community garden.
Let kids be problem-solvers—give them a real classroom issue (How can we make our reading corner cozier?) and let them brainstorm solutions.
Artsy Thursday: The World as Their Canvas
Instead of just making crafts, let’s celebrate the way children see beauty in everything.
Host a “Loose Parts Art” day—where kids create using unexpected objects like buttons, sticks, fabric scraps, and old keys.
Encourage “Shadow Art” where kids trace shadows outside to capture moving, living art.
End the day with a “Reverse Art Show”—instead of adults describing the art, children walk around and tell their own stories about what they see.
Family Friday: Love in the Little Moments
Family isn’t just about who you live with—it’s about who makes you feel safe, loved, and important. This day is all about celebrating connections in ways that are deeply meaningful.
Create a “Love in a Note” wall where families write short messages to their child and post them for all to see.
Have children make “Heart Maps”—drawings of the people, places, and things that make them feel loved.
End the week with a “Memory Hug”—encourage parents to whisper something sweet into their child’s ear at pick-up, something their child can hold onto long after WOYC ends.
Beyond the Week: A Lasting Impact
WOYC isn’t just about fun activities; it’s a reminder that childhood is precious, fleeting, and full of wonder. This year, let’s celebrate not just by doing things for children, but by seeing the world through their eyes.
What will you do differently this Week of the Young Child? Let’s make it a week that isn’t just special for them—but one they’ll still feel in their hearts long after it’s over.
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