What kinds of environments are the future generations of our nation growing up in? I may be biased because I am majoring in early childhood development, but the everyday environment presented to children has a strong impact on their futures. This environment includes not only the offered materials that foster learning, but also people and interactions.
“Approximately 13 million infants, toddlers, and preschool children are regularly in non-parental care in the United States, including 45 percent of children younger than one year,” the National Association for the Education of Young Children states.
Unfortunately, many childcare workers are not educated in childhood development, which is why it is a good thing there are many informative programs to enlighten teachers in the state of Idaho. Week of the Young Child, an annual program put on by the NAEYC to benefit children, is scheduled for April 22 to 28.
A local event to support Week of the Young Child is “Change for Children,” a fundraiser to collect loose change from local businesses, citizens of Moscow and people on the University of Idaho campus. The money will support professional development for childcare workers in Idaho.
Imagine if each student gave just one penny, we would raise roughly $12,312. Stop by “Change for Children” tables on campus April 25 to ask questions and find out more about the importance of quality childcare.
We should be proud to live in a state that looks out for young children and our nation’s future. President of NIAEYC-UISA Sammi Watson conveys the event’s importance saying, “By supporting and empowering children and families, we ultimately strengthen the communities in which we live.”
Casey Dail can be reached at [email protected]