Week of the Young Child
Georgia Celebrates
April as Month of the Young Child
Although Week of the Young Child (WOYC) is celebrated nationally, Georgians celebrate the Month of the Young Child (MOYC) throughout April. Join the celebration with special events in your program and display yellow ribbons signifying young children as Georgia's "Ray of Hope."
2011 Proclamation Signing
On April 4, 2011 Governor Nathan Deal helped GAYC and other state leaders kick-off the month long celebration as he signed a proclamation declaring April as "Month of the Young Child".
To view and/or print the photo of the 2011 Month of the Young Child Proclamation signing at the Governor's office go to www.gov.georgia.gov and visit the Governor's Photo Gallery page. Follow the links to April 4, 2011 for the picture of Governor Deal and state leaders for children and families.
Statewide MOYC Calendar
2012 MOYC Calendar is available for download below.
Thank-you Ayanna Hawkins, GAYC WOYC Chair for compiling the statewide MOYC Calendar.
We hope you are beginning to plan for April 2012.
Publicity Materials
For national publicity materials, free logos and a WOYC Tool Kit including sample ideas and how to's which you can adapt for your program visit www.naeyc.org
Download below a MOYC PowerPoint presentation to share with others the importance of and pictures from Georgia's Month of the Young Child . Feel free to add some of your own pictures to highlight MOYC activities in your area.
Download below the MOYC Fact Sheet (pages 1 and 2)
Download below a sample WOYC brochure from Statesboro. Think about creating your own brochure!
Thank-you to Georgia's Early Childhood Comprehensive System (ECCS) for support of promotional materials for Month of the Young Child.
April is also National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Download below a 1-page activity calendar, 30 Ways to Strengthen Families during National Child Abuse Prevention Month: April 2011. The calendar and a 2011 Strengthening Families Resource Guide are available at http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/preventionmonth/ These materials are available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Children's Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, via its Child Welfare Information Gateway and the FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention. The guide contains resources to promote community awareness of the Protective Factors that can help families protect children from the risk of child abuse and neglect, including tip sheets for parents in English and Spanish.
April is National Autism Awareness Month
More children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. In Georgia, one in 98 children will be born with an ASD. The Marcus Autism Center website has a listing of several local and national events and activities aimed at raising awareness and funds to support vital research and treatment. To learn more visit http://www.marcus.org/default.aspx?id=302 or visit The Autism Society at http://www.autism-society.org/ Materials are available.
Early Years are Learning Years. Make Them Count!