The Collaboration for Early Childhood kicks off its Week of the Young Child Saturday with multiple events throughout the Oak Park community this upcoming week.
The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration, sponsored by the National Association for Education of Young Children, the world’s largest early childhood education association.
Michelle Howell, family engagement partnership coordinator for the Collaboration for Early Childhood in Oak Park, said their services are focused on children and families with children ages prenatal to 5 years old.
To help families celebrate their young children, Howell said the organization planned themed days and reached out to their local partners to see if anyone wanted to participate and host the events.
The kickoff event April 6 will be held at the Berwyn Public Library on South Harlem Avenue. from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. with a Bilingual Adventures with Abuela Storytime and Crafts. The event will feature children’s author Virginia Martinez, who will read her books “Adventures with Abuela: Let’s go to the Shedd Aquarium.”
On Monday, April 8, Music Monday will be held with three events hosted at locations around the community, including a 9 a.m. Music Together You and Yours Free Demo Class at Unity Church of Oak Park on Euclid. Bilingual storytime also will be held at Forest Park Public Library, and an Animal Moves Dance Party will be held at Let’s Play Work on Circle Avenue in Forest Park.
Other events include:
- Tuesday, April 9: Tasty Tuesday
- Wednesday, April 10: Work Together Wednesday
- Thursday, April 11: Artsy Thursday
- Friday, April 12: Family Friday
Tracy Patton, program manager for Easterseals Partnering with Parents, a parent support program for prenatal to 5-year-olds, said they have partnered with Early Childhood for their Artsy Thursday celebration.
“We will read a story that talks about color mixing and talk a little bit about the importance of art experiences in early childhood and that not everything has to be something,” Patton said. “So, process art versus product art. We have all walked into a classroom and the bulletin board is filled with 20 identical projects with children’s names on them. You are doing art wrong if they all look alike.”
Kids will be able to paint and take their art home, Patton said.
The event will be free but registration is required as space is limited.
“If they can sit on a parent’s lap and put their hands in paint, they can paint,” Patton added.
According to Howell, all of the events are either free or are being offered by their partners through discounted rates.
Additional partners for the celebration include Wonder Works Children’s Museum, FIT4MOM Oak Park and River Forest, West Suburban Special Recreation Association, Forest Park Public Library, Let’s Play Work, Tracy’s Plate, the Oak Park Public Library and more.
“We just want to make sure our families know there is no wrong door … they also have a connection to anyone that we are connected to,” Howell said.
More information and registration for the events can be found online.
