Aurora celebrates Week of the Young Child

SPARK Aurora Early Childhood Collaboration is asking Aurora to come together for children for several days during the Week of the Young Child, which ends Saturday.

As part of the national celebration, Aurora is honoring children and all those who make a difference in children's lives.

This year's main event is from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora. Children, parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers and community members are invited to the free celebration that will feature entertainment and activities for children and resources for their parents and caregivers.

"All young children need and deserve high-quality early learning experiences that will prepare them for life, and Aurora has a great opportunity to do our part to help young children," said Trish Rooney, director of SPARK Aurora Early Childhood Collaboration.

The event is hosted by SPARK and partners, including the YWCA Child Care Resource & Referral, Fox Valley Park District, Aurora Public Library, All Our Kids Network, Two Rivers Head Start Agency, Fox Valley Association for the Education of Young Children, DuPage Children's Museum, Kane County Health Department, Waubonsee Community College and DayOneNetwork.

Week of the Young Child, sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, is an opportunity for early childhood programs across the country, including child care and Head Start programs, preschools, and elementary schools, to hold activities to bring awareness to the needs of young children.

It is a time to recognize the importance of early learning and early literacy, and to celebrate the teachers and policies that bring early childhood education to young children.

SPARK Aurora Early Childhood Collaboration has many early childhood professionals working together to improve professional practice and working conditions in early childhood education, and to build public support for high-quality early childhood education programs.

The mission of SPARK Aurora Early Childhood Collaboration is to empower diverse families and children to attain full success in learning and life by ensuring all Aurora's young children have equal access to exemplary early childhood care and education.

For more information, contact www.sparkaurora.org or (630) 896-4636.

If you go

What: Week of the Young Child event

When: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 18

Where: Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora

Cost: Free

Info: (630) 896-4636 or www.sparkaurora.org