The 50th anniversary of the Week of the Young Child is April 10 – 16, 2021 and we’re “Celebrating Our Youngest Learners” in our own unique way!
We encourage child care providers, preschools, and parents alike to use and share these activities as well as visit NAEYC for more resources to celebrate the Week of the Young Child.
Week of the Young Child Activities
April 12, 2021 Mindfulness Monday
Bring a little zen into your classroom’s day. Do a yoga routine, create a zen garden, or simply just breathe; and see the peaceful change that takes place.
April 13, 2021 Teamwork Tuesday
Parachute play, circle songs and games, and follow the leader are just some activities that promote teamwork and emphasize communication, collaboration and cooperation. Build groups; two or three friends work together on art projects or a larger group creating a mural. Re-enact an all-time favorite, Stone Soup by Jon Muth or enjoy We are Better Together by Roger Priddy.
April 14, 2021 Wild Wednesday
Let’s get wild on Wednesday! Indoors or outdoors, you can increase teacher-led physical activity by having the children perform wild animal movements, do the chicken dance or practice animal yoga. How about creating animal masks in art class or reading and acting out Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak? And since Randolph County is home to the North Carolina Zoo, Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire would be a great book to highlight on Wild Wednesday.
April 15, 2021 Thoughtful Thursday
On this day take time to be kind! Spread joy by being kind to others as well as nature. Encourage children to share a toy with a friend, give a compliment, create a card for someone or even take a nature walk and embrace nature’s beauty.
April 16, 2021 Feelings Friday
Celebrate all the feels on this day! Emotional intelligence allows children to recognize their own emotions and those of others, label emotions, and use that information to guide their behaviors. Sing silly songs! Roll a dice with different emotions on each side and have the children try to express that emotion and talk about what makes you feel that way. Read books such as Today I Feel Silly, The Feelings Book, or Glad Monster, Sad Monster. Take pictures of the children showing various emotions and make a homemade book for the reading area. Children are so expressive so today let those feelings be free! Remember feelings are just visitors, let them come and go!
And don’t forget to take a walk through downtown Asheboro to enjoy 2021 Art Explosion! You can also view the VIRTUAL GALLERY of this year’s Art Explosion thanks to Randolph Arts Guild.
