The Alabama Partnership for Children, along with other state advocates and hundreds of local organizations around the country, celebrate “Week of the Young Child,” April 3-9. “Week of the Young Child” honors the more than 35 million children ages birth through eight in America, and the families, teachers and other adults who help children make the most of the opportunities in their early years. "Research and experience clearly show that children’s earliest years are crucial learning years," said Gail Piggott, Executive Director of the Alabama Partnership for Children. "Our state’s future can be enhanced by the quality of the early childhood learning experiences provided to young children today, and “Week of the Young Child” is a chance to highlight early learning as an important education and economic development issue". “Week of the Young Child” celebrations around Alabama promote high-quality early learning experiences for all children and honor the families, teachers and other adults who care for children during these critical formative years. Across the state, families and others who care for young children join in fun and educational activities centered around children from birth to eight to celebrate “Week of the Young Child.” "Early childhood programs are an essential part of the education of young children, and a crucial service for families and communities, yet we still pay early childhood teachers less than hairstylists and garbage collectors," said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., Executive Director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. "Week of the Young Child’ is a time to remember that if we want our children to succeed, we need to support the teachers and programs that give them a great start." The Alabama Partnership for Children advocates a comprehensive effort to improve the quality of early learning experiences for all children birth to five, including: o Providing professional development opportunities through T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® ALABAMA, a comprehensive scholarship program that links education and compensation; o Providing parents of newborns a Kidstuff Parenting Kit that offers immediate access to information and resources regarding child growth and development; o Development of a statewide early care and education public awareness campaign in partnership with other early care and education leaders throughout the state; and
o Encouraging coordination that will result in a well-developed comprehensive system at the local level to promote birth to five issues.
