| Did you know that this is the Week of the Young | | | | activities to help you recognize this week, but I |
| Child? It is! And this year's theme is "Building | | | | thought I'd come up with my own ideas, as well. I |
| Better Futures for All Children." (It's already | | | | really want to do what I can. |
| proving to be much more popular than last year's | | | | Here are some things I pledge to do this week, in |
| theme of "Building Better Futures for White | | | | celebration of the Week of the Young Child: |
| Middle-Class Children.") | | | | * I will not make fun of the Doodlebops hair, nor |
| From the NAEYC website: | | | | will I comment that having to look at this would |
| The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is | | | | make me lose my appetite in a wave of |
| to focus public attention on the needs of young | | | | neon-color-induced nausea. |
| children and their families and to recognize the | | | | * I will not say a word about how the only thing |
| early childhood programs and services that meet | | | | scarier than having to watch Barney and his pals |
| those needs. | | | | on television would be inviting them into the tub |
| NAEYC first established the Week of the Young | | | | with your child. |
| Child in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood | | | | * I will not mention even once that a talking |
| years (birth through age 8) lay the foundation for | | | | Caillou doll would cause me to develop a nervous |
| children's success in school and later life. The | | | | twitch, or that I would almost rather my children |
| Week of the Young Child is a time to plan how | | | | remain illiterate than learn their ABCs from the |
| we--as citizens of a community, of a state, and | | | | world's whiniest 4-year-old. |
| of a nation--will better meet the needs of all | | | | * I will continue my deep love for all things Max |
| young children and their families. | | | | and Ruby, without my compulsive need to point |
| Sounds good to me. Right up until I remember | | | | out that these poor children have clearly been |
| that I have only a few weeks left before my | | | | abandoned by their parents. |
| daughter turns 8, and then I'm OUT OF TIME to | | | | * I will pretend to understand what Caillou is |
| FIX HER. Oh, the pressure! Will I look back on this, | | | | saying, and not poke fun at his speech |
| during her teen years, and wish that I'd done | | | | impediment. |
| more? Will I regret not properly observing this | | | | * I will stop rearranging and dismembering The |
| week, lo those many years? | | | | Wiggles and instead accept them for who they |
| The NAEYC website has a great list of suggested | | | | are. |