The Week of the Young Child (WOYC) begins in mid-April. According to its website, the National Association for the Education of Young Children hosts the WOYC yearly and its focus is celebrating early learning in young children and their support system of family and teachers.

Although it’s a national celebration, Bell County has plenty of local child-focused programs and directives to make the WOYC worthwhile for families in the area.

The week kicks off on April 16 with a Proclamation Signing by Bell County Judge-Executive Albey Brock at the Bell County Courthouse at 1:30 p.m. Beginning at noon at the Middlesboro Mall, there will be a ribbon-cutting event for First Things First Center for Early Childhood Resources.

On April 17, the theme of the day is “A Little Appreciation,” which encourages parents and guardians to do things to show their appreciation such as taking a lunch to your early childhood service provider, taking a photo of your child with the other people who share responsibility in caring for them and post it on social media as a thank you or to take a treat basket to a child care professional you know.

On April 18 at First Things First Center for Early Childhood Resources, there will be an administrators’ roundtable and brown bag lunch. The theme is “The Eight Qualities of Leadership.” There will be workshops for parents and guardians, storytelling, sign-ups for training and more.

The event for April 19 will be “A Little Picture Walk.” Display boards will be given to all eight local elementary schools, seven child care programs and any child care organization that services children from birth to the age of eight. The crafts the children make will be on display at the Middlesboro Mall from April 19 through the end of the month.

April 20 brings the third annual E-CATCH Early Childhood Summit at Pine Mountain State Park, an invitation-only event. The WOYC will end April 21 with A Little Family Fun, at the Middlesboro Mall. Families are encouraged to spend the day learning with their child(ren) with reading activities, toy tables, art projects and simple science projects. This begins at 10 a.m. and lasts until 7 p.m.