Week of the Young Child: In Celebration of Rural Capital Area Child Care Providers
To our Rural Capital Area Child Care providers,
This week marks the Week of the Young Child (WOYC) Event. This event, held annually by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), encourages child care providers all over the country to come together and provide a fun filled week for the children they served.
WOYC Themes from the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children: click here.
While this year will look much different than past years, we want to use the Week of the Young Child as an opportunity to give a huge “Thank you” to all of the child care providers within our nine-county region who are currently serving a crucial role in our communities.
While our child care providers focus on making this an unforgettable, fun filled week for the children they serve, we want to make this a week to show our gratitude and appreciation for the teachers, caregivers, and administrators who are ensuring the essential workers of our communities can continue to work. Below are remarks from Heather Marden, an NAEYC Chapter President.
We at Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area couldn’t have put it into better words and therefore wish to share hers.
Dear early childhood educators and leaders in our child care programs,
You are seen. You are heard. In a matter of 24 hours you were slapped in the face with unprecedented circumstances and decisions you were not prepared to make. You were told to practice social distancing. You were told we need your care. You were not told how those two things coincide.
You are the backbone of the economy. Yet, no one ever tells you that. You show up each day, you give love, you give learning.
For those of you leading child care programs, you probably never thought you would be facing a decision on who's health is most important. You were being asked to choose. Yourself? Your family? Your staff? Your students? Their families? The people in the community that your families may serve? Everyone who comes in contact with any of them?
On top of health decisions, let's throw in the threat of losing your livelihood. Maybe if you are lucky, you have had 48 hours to figure this all out.
Somewhere amidst the pressure, you made hard decisions. Decisions that tore at your heart. Decisions that made people feel scared. Decisions that made people feel angry. Decisions that made people feel relieved. Decisions that will affect people for a long time to come.
You made the RIGHT decision.
Whether you are still providing care or not providing care, you made the best decision in a time of crisis where there was little guidance. You contributed to the greater good if you are practicing social distancing and staying home. You contributed to the greater good if you are caring for children of essential workers.
You CONTRIBUTE to the greater good each day of your life and your efforts can never be measured.
-Heather Marden
In order to show our lasting appreciation for the contribution of our child care programs, we encourage you to find a way to thank a local child care provider during this Week of the Young Child. Write a “Thank you“ sign and put it in front of their business.
Write encouraging messages or draw encouraging pictures with chalk on the sidewalks outside of their centers. Parents, you or your child can write a “Thank you” note and mail it to your local child care center (sealed with a wet sponge).
We encourage you to find a way to safely show your appreciation for the often overlooked contribution of these critical child care workers. As each and every day they support our children physically, emotionally, and cognitively, we here at Rural Capital Area cannot express our heartfelt gratitude for all they do for our communities.
Thank you from the entire Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area family!
TOPICS: Child Care Services
