DCM Celebrates Week of the Young Child

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) established the Week of the Young Child™ in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years (birth through age 8) lay the foundation for children's success in school and later life. The purpose of the Week of the Young Child™ is 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 (NAEYC, 2011).

In partnership with the DuPage/Kane YWCA Childcare Resource and Referral, DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) hosted two events to celebrate.

Record Reading Event,  One Book….One Week…One Goal!

DCM set off on an adventure to read for the record! Spring was celebrated as staff  engaged visitors in readings of Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert. In this classic book, a father and child share the joys of planting, watering, and watching seeds grow. Once their harvest is ready, they cook up all of the vegetables into the best soup ever!

Provider Open House

This annual event celebrates those who care for our youngest learners. Over 100 early learning professionals enjoyed an evening of refreshments, science and math activities, as well as a panel discussion, Are you Kindergarten Ready?  The panel was moderated by Trish Rooney, Executive Director of SPARK, Aurora’s Early Childhood Collaboration. Panel members were Peggy Keifer, Naperville School District 203 Supervisor/Parent Educator; Mollie Willis, Early Learning Specialist with DuPage Children's Museum; Jan Munday, Family Child Care Provider; Kathy Robson, Wheaton/Warrenville Early Childhood Collaboration Project Director; and Marion Dunham, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago CCR&R Quality and Training Coordinator.  An interactive and engaging discussion focused on how community organizations come together to prepare children for Kindergarten from birth to five years old.