Community organizations across Pinal County are coming together starting April 12 to celebrate the Week of the Young Child online.

First Things First, Arizona’s early childhood agency, and the Pinal Early Childhood Coalition are collaborating to bring a series of free, hands-on, interactive online activities through Zoom that promote music, food, cooperation, art and family for parents and caregivers of children birth to age 5, according to a release.

Parents and caregivers can register at bit.ly/PinalWOYC2021 for these free events.

First Things First and the Pinal Early Childhood Coalition have coordinated a variety of local programs to promote diverse and engaging activities for parents and children. Participating local programs include:

•  First Smiles
• Sensory and Developmental Screening and Strengthening Families through University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
• United Way of Pinal County Family, Friend and Neighbor program;
• Apache Junction Fun Van
• Child and Family Resources
• Women, Infants and Children
• Banner Ironwood Medical Center
• Child care resources and referral
• Pinal County librarians from Apache Junction, Coolidge and City of Maricopa public libraries.

“Week of the Young Child is an important reminder of the need to intentionally engage young children at a critical stage in their development, while helping parents and caregivers learn about available resources,” Shannon Brown, First Things First pinal regional director, said in the release. “Especially in this time of social distancing, where many children have had reduced opportunities to interact with family and friends, we hope to support parents through this week of interactive games, activities, learning and fun.”

Families and caregivers are asked to register for the events by March 24 for each day they are interested in participating. Free activity bags will be made available for pick up starting April 1 at their closest participating library.

Parents can participate in one or multiple sessions, offered at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., or 6 p.m. Families unable to join live can find recordings of the events at bit.ly/PinalWOYC21.

The 50th anniversary of Week of the Young Child, which is hosted annually by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, falls on April 10-16 this year. Its intent is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families, while highlighting the local community programs that serve them.

About First Things First

As Arizona’s early childhood agency, First Things First funds early learning, family support and children’s preventive health services to help kids be successful once they enter kindergarten. Decisions about how those funds are spent are made by local councils staffed by community volunteers. Go to FirstThingsFirst.org.