The week of April 23rd we will celebrate all young children as a part of Week of the Young Child.

This week-long event is an annual celebration to focus on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs in Nash and Edgecombe counties. The Down East Partnership for Children is the organization at the heart of the early childhood system in our community and believes we all have a role to play in supporting our community by ensuring every child is launched as a healthy, lifelong learner by the end of the third grade.

Why do we focus our efforts on birth through age 8? Because this period is a unique developmental time in children’s lives.

By age 8, children develop the academic and social skills that form the foundation for later learning – problem-solving, self-confidence, relationship building, curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.

Also by age 8, children are no longer learning to read but reading to learn. It is during this period that children get the greatest benefit from high quality educational opportunities. Without such opportunities, they may never have that foundation for later learning and may never reach their full potential.

According to the N.C. School Report Card, in 2009-10, only 44 percent of the children in Edgecombe County and 57 percent of the children in Nash County, in grades 3-8, performed at or above grade level on both the math and reading end of grade tests.

If the children of our community are to reach their full potential and if our two-county area is to experience long-term economic success, we all must take responsibility for changing this statistic.

Education must begin at birth to ensure that every child is ready for school. High quality elementary schools must be ready for every child.

And each school and the school system must be surrounded by a community ready to work with the schools to ensure that all children have the opportunity to be successful.

Please join us this year during Week of the Young Child to celebrate and thank the many volunteers, teachers, families staff and caregivers that support young children in our community and help move us forward.

We have events during the week for the whole family. Many thanks to all sponsors who have made them possible and free to our participants.

If you would like to participate in one of these events, please call 252-985-4300 by April 16 to reserve a space at the event.

• 10 to 11 a.m. April 23 at Sunset Park. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

This parade is a fun and exciting opportunity for children, providers and families to come together and celebrate children.

• 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. April 26 at Braswell Memorial Library.

This event will promote early literacy through storytelling and fun. Healthy snacks will be served.

Participants will be invited to bring books to share for Down East Partnership for children literacy programs. Children can wear their favorite pajamas and bring a favorite stuffed friend as they listen to different stories presented by entertaining storytellers.

• Noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday at Lakeside Baptist Church.

This luncheon will increase awareness of the impact of the early education system and how community partners are making a difference.