District 214 Community Education celebrates Week of the Young Child

The recent return of the Week of the Young Child event was a success, as more than 900 people attended and gained valuable information concerning early childhood education options, services and opportunities.

Designed for families with children up to age 4, the event is sponsored in partnership between High School District 214 Community Education and Arlington Heights School District 25 Early Childhood program, along with the Early Childhood Block Grant ECDEC FIND PI program.

Attendees learned about a range of preschool programs in the community, along with information about a variety of community services, such as local libraries, park districts and community organizations and vendors offering a range of social and emotional support services, as well as child development and recreational opportunities.

This year's event - the first in person since 2019 - was held at the Forest View Educational Center. There was a variety of entertainment including the Mexican dance group Ballet Folklorico, an Indian dance performance and singalong songs led by preschoolers.

"We successfully celebrated children and gave parents very valuable resources to excel their families. So many parents, vendors and staff thanked us for bringing the in-person event back to Forest View. Children were all smiles, with many shrieking with excitement as they entered the gym! The entertainment and activity tables kept everyone engaged and delighted," said Kristen Ford, the director of ECDEC/FIND Project.