Celebrating the Week of the Young Child at Penfield Children’s Center
At Penfield Children’s Center, we believe every child deserves a joyful, nurturing, and enriching start to life — and Week of the Young Child is a beautiful reminder of why early childhood matters so much.
This national celebration, sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), shines a spotlight on early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities. Throughout the week, our classrooms were filled with music, creativity, movement, and connection — and we also took time to honor the life-changing work of our Birth to 3 team.
🎶 Music Monday
Our week kicked off with rhythm and movement as children and teachers paraded around their classrooms and hallways, making joyful music with drums, tambourines, and shakers. The smiles were contagious!
🍓 Tasty Tuesday
Little chefs took over the kitchen (with a little help!) to create their own delicious fruit pizzas. From slicing strawberries to sprinkling blueberries, it was a sweet and healthy way to explore new flavors.
🤝 Work Together Wednesday
Teamwork took center stage as children designed colorful sticker patches and decorated our donation ledge board together. It was a beautiful display of collaboration and creativity!
🎨 Artsy Thursday
Every classroom got a new mascot! Children used crayons, markers, and lots of imagination to decorate their own mascot and proudly display it on their classroom doors.
👨👩👧 Family Friday
We ended the week celebrating the important role families play in learning. Classrooms created family trees and welcomed guest readers, making the day feel extra special and connected.
Celebrating the Week of the Young Child reminds us how critical the first three years of life are for a child’s development. Through Birth to Three early intervention services, Penfield Children’s Center supports each child’s growth by nurturing learning, creativity, and connection right from the start. These early experiences lay the foundation for lifelong success, and with the right support, every child can reach their full potential.
Voices from Our Birth to 3 Team
We asked a few of our team members to reflect on the importance of early intervention and how the Birth to 3 program empowers children and families. Their responses offer a glimpse into the passion and purpose behind the work they do every day.
“Birth to 3 helps the child reach his or her full potential by addressing developmental delays early. Our parent coaching approach empowers the parent and gives them the tools to help their children reach their goals.”
Rebecca Folkman, Infant Family Specialist/Service Coordinator
“Birth to 3 impacts children and families by giving the important people in a child’s life the tools and resources to support their child’s development. A Birth to 3 provider finds ways to help children grow and develop by embedding strategies within activities and routines that are meaningful to the child and their family. This could be anything from being able to communicate when they want a snack, crawling to their favorite person, or being able to hold and drink from a cup.”
Rachel Theofanis, Speech-Language Pathologist
“Birth to 3 doesn’t just provide early intervention; it provides a lifeline. It surrounds families with experts who understand, resources that empower, and most importantly, support that eases the mental load. Knowing you’re not alone, that there’s a path forward, and that your child is receiving the help they need is priceless. The right support at the right time doesn’t just change developmental outcomes — it restores hope.”
Nichole Spooner, Service Coordinator
These reflections underscore what we know to be true: early support changes lives. Through Birth to 3, our team helps children make progress, families feel empowered, and futures shine a little brighter.
We are so grateful to our educators, therapists, families, and — most importantly — the children who make Penfield such a vibrant place to grow and learn.
Thank you for celebrating with us during the Week of the Young Child! 💛
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