Cerro Coso Community College celebrated its youngest learners with five fun-filled days of activities during the Week of the Young Child.
With the help of local celebrities and college administrators, faculty, and staff pre-literacy learning for youth through storytelling was a major focus during the many activities planned for children in the college's Child Development Center (CDC).
Each year, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) acknowledges the importance of educating young children by holding a week-long celebration focused on young learners. Week of the Young Child also honors members of the community who teach children, including educators as well as parents, guardians, and caregivers.
For Cerro Coso CDC children the week kicked off on Music Monday with the children making artistic musical instruments, followed by Tasty Tuesday, where the children learned to prepare simple healthy snacks. Work Together Wednesday included a bubble blowout in the College Sculpture Garden, and Artsy Thursday encouraged the children to use their favorite medium to create masterpieces to hang. The week concluded on Family Friday with a parade around the college campus and fun and games in the Sculpture Garden.
Daryl Silberberg Jr., Chairman of the Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce, a father and grandfather, jumped at the chance to read to the children at the CDC and brought several of his grandchildren's favorite books to read.
Officer Jayson Arnold of the Ridgecrest Police Department read the children's favorite If You Give a Mouse a Cookie to an enthusiastic group that helped recite the text during the reading. Officer Arnold also allowed the children to get a close up view of the police car and all its bells and whistles.
“It's important to make learning fun,” said Jessica Krall, Cerro Coso CDC Program Manager. “We want to thank everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to read and participate in the many special activities designed to promote literacy education and thank the child care providers who play such an important role in the education of our youth.”
Picture Caption: Daryl Silberberg Jr., Chairman of the Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce, took time out of his busy schedule to read a book to the children in the Cerro Coso Child Development Center during Week of the Young Child.
