NORTHAMPTON, MA –  Communities throughout Hampshire County are organizing a series of events next week (April 14th – 20th) to raise awareness of the needs of young children, and their families, as well as the community programs and services that support them.

The Week of the Young Child is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. This year’s theme is Early Years Are Learning Years.

Next week is also Brain Building in Progress Week, an initiative promoting the positive, future impact of quality early childhood education and care. Brain Building in Progress Week is organized by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, as well as funders and providers throughout the state.

Barbara Finlayson said that as a “child’s earliest years are so critical to their development and learning, these two week-long campaigns raise our awareness of the need to provide supportive, enriching experiences for very young children in child care, school and at home.”

The Week of the Young Child activities and community events taking place around Hampshire County are listed below: 

Belchertown
The Belchertown Family Center will be posting a StoryWalk — stay tuned for the book selection, dates, and location.

Easthampton
The Easthampton Family Center will be posting the pages of Ezra Jack Keats’s Over in the Meadow for a StoryWalk in Eastworks from April 8 through April 22.

Palmer and Monson
Beginning April 13, downtown businesses in Palmer and Monson will display children’s artwork for all to see.

The pages of Janet Morgan Stoeke’s A Hat for Minerva Louise will be hung at Old Mill Pond School in Palmer for a StoryWalk from April 12 through May 4.

Stroll through the pages of A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle at Veteran’s Field in Monson for this StoryWalk, from April 13 – 28.

Musician Jon O’Neill appears at the Monson Free Library for a free concert, sponsored by the Palmer Monson Family Network PAC on Thursday, April 18 at 3pm.

South Hadley
Delight in children’s artwork, on display from April 14-20 in the following South Hadley locations:

Town Hall
South Hadley Public Library in the Falls and Big Y
Gaylord Library
Comfort Shoes, Berkshire Yogurt, IYA Sushi and Noodle Kitchen, and People’s Bank ATM (all on College Street)

Ware
The Ware Family Center and Ware PCDC Head Start will hang children’s artwork for display from April 12-22 in windows of Ware businesses.