Bring Communities Together for Children~
Children Bring Communities Together!

What is the Week of the Young Child?
WOYC is an annual celebration of young children that was started in 1971 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Each year First 5 Shasta joins other local organizations and businesses to develop a Shasta County celebration that focuses on young children, ages 0-to-5, their families and caregivers. WOYC is a time to honor young children and remind our community that they are important and valued residents of Shasta County!

Shasta County has adopted the 40 Developmental Assets as the foundation for our strength-based
WOYC celebration. The national theme for WOYC 2009 is Bring Communities Together for Children--
Children Bring Communities Together. The Assets offer a natural and powerful guide to developing events
and activities that fit this theme.

Learn more about the 40 Developmental Assets here!

View/Download " 40 Developmental Assets for Early Childhood (Ages 3-5)"

The "Paperdoll Project" links generations and all geographic areas of Shasta County in a signature activity for WOYC 2009. Paperdolls handcrafted by young children in early education, child care, and home environments are being donated for adoption and display! Each paperdoll is unique, decorated in an individual child's self-image. The Paperdoll Project alerts the entire community to the WOYC celebration and the importance and value of young children. Local businesses hosting a paperdoll display indicate their support for children, families, and a thriving Shasta County.

Make Paperdolls: View the dollmaker invitation to learn how young children can join the WOYC Paperdoll Project. Children from local preschools, child care centers, family child care homes, and other children's activity groups are invited to create paperdolls - one to keep and one to donate. Families are invited to join the fun!
Print a sample Paperdoll here.

Request Paperdolls: Request quantities of free blank paperdolls for your children's group. Be sure to include quantity (2 per child) and contact information for delivery.
Submit paperdoll requests to Linda Delles.

Display Paperdolls: TO adopt a group of paperdolls businesses may submit requests to Maegan Loktoff, Shasta Women's Refuge.

Need help funding a Week of the Young Child project for Shasta County? "Mini-grants" are available from First 5 Shasta! If you are developing a WOYC project that is based on the 40 Developmental Assets and appropriate for
children ages 0-to-5, their families, or professionals focused on this age group, you may be eligible to apply for a
mini-grant. The first step in the mini-grant process is to discuss project ideas with Debbie Peel, Marketing & Communications Coordinator at First 5 Shasta.

Learn more: WOYC Mini-grant Announcement | WOYC Mini-grant Application
Contact: Debbie Peel

Get national WOYC details at: www.naeyc.org/woyc

A R C H I V E - Shasta County WOYC
2008 CALENDAR
2008 WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD - SHASTA COUNTY
Review items in the archive to get ideas for events and activities. Learn how your business, agency, or organization can get involved in this annual celebration of Shasta County's youngest residents!