On April 10, 2012, Gov. Nathan Deal helped the Georgia Association on Young Children, the Department of Public Health - Office of Child Health and other state leaders kickoff a month-long celebration by signing a proclamation declaring April as Month of the Young Child.

During this month and throughout the year, the department encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making Georgia a better place for children and families. Ensuring parents have the knowledge, skills and resources they need to care for their children can help promote children's social and emotional well-being.

"All young children need and deserve high-quality early learning experiences that will prepare them for life, and Georgia has a great opportunity to do our part to help young children," said Kelli Rayford, interim unit manager, Comprehensive Child Health Services, DPH. "Month of the Young Child is a time for Georgia to recognize that 'Early Years are Learning Years' for all young children."  

Deal's proclamation indicates the importance of showing support for early learning in our community by promoting early literacy programs, thanking teachers and caregivers who care for children and working to ensure that public policies support early learning for all young children.

For Georgia happenings, the statewide   MOYC Calendar of Events,  a MOYC Power Point, and Fact Sheets, visit the Week of the Young  Child page at www.gayconline.org.

Month of the Young Child is an opportunity for early childhood programs, including child care and Head Start programs, preschools, and elementary schools, to hold activities to bring awareness to the needs of young children. The Office of Child Health is proudly sponsoring a book drive in support of Month of the Young Child. Developing early reading skills is crucial to children's success in school. A collection receptacle will be available at the Comprehensive Child Health Services Receptionist Desk on the 11th floor for the entire month of April from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Office of Child Health is also sponsoring Kite Day on April 20 from 10 a.m. to noon at Central Park in Atlanta. Kite Day is a fun opportunity to recognize and celebrate with Georgia's young children and the programs and individuals that serve them. Local Pre-K classrooms have been invited to come to the park to decorate and fly kites in honor of Month of the Young Child. Programs who serve young children and their families have also been invited to share their information with attendees.

The mission of the Georgia Association on Young Children is to encourage and support healthy development in young children by working with others to increase public awareness of the importance of early childhood education, and to improve the quality of programs for young children through learning opportunities for early childhood educators.

-Story by Kimberly Stringer, DPH Communications