By Staff
Center leaders stress early education
By CHRISTINA HALE
Staff Writer
A band of proud children, parents and teachers marched through downtown Washington in a parade Wednesday morning in celebration of the Week of the Young Child.
More than 550 children and adults attended the event, which is meant to highlight children and the importance of early education.
Teachers from child-care centers that participated in the parade said their children enjoyed a whole week of activities.
About 35 preschoolers from the Beaufort County Development Center attended Wednesday’s celebration.
Each day this week marks a different event for the children, she said. In preparation for the parade, children decorated their own T-shirts and hats, which they wore to represent the center.
The Care-O-World child-care facility has been participating in the parade for more than 10 years, said Sara Ivey, the assistant director.
About 65 children from there attended this year’s celebration.
Care-O-World had an event each day this week to celebrate with the children.
Today is wacky hair day and Friday marks an ice cream social for both children and parents, Ivey said.
Ginger Thomas, the curriculum director of Care-O-World, said the Week of the Young Child is important because “for years people have taken children for granted.”
Thomas said it’s important for parents to know that their children are in “a situation that is positive for them and not just staying with someone because they are available.”
At Care-O-World each classroom has at least one teacher with a degree. “We try to have all of the staff working toward degrees,” she said.