March 27, 2025
Story by Joe Vinduska
Barton Community College’s Early Childhood Education Program will host a free family event, “Wheels and Squeals,” from 9 a.m. to noon April 5 to celebrate the national Week of the Young Child.
The event will be held at the Case New Holland Parking Lot and Building, which is located at the northeast corner of the college’s campus. The event will feature hands-on activities, including a “Touch-a-Truck” experience where children can explore large vehicles such as tractors. Other child-friendly activities include planting flowers, interacting with baby animals, and crafting.
Barton Instructor and Coordinator of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education KellyAnn Bonnell said she was excited to celebrate young children and their families.
“We wanted to create an event that included numerous hands-on, collaborative activities that encourage play and exploration,” she said. “It’s also a great opportunity to focus attention on the needs of our youngest learners and their families.”
Admission is free, and all ages are welcome.
The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world’s largest early childhood education association, with nearly 60,000 members and a network of 51 affiliates.
NAEYC first established the Week of the Young Child in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years (birth through age 8) lay the foundation for children’s success in school and later in life. The Week of the Young Child is a time to think about how society can better meet the needs of all young children and their families.
For more information, contact Bonnell at (620) 786-1130 or bonnellk@bartonccc.edu.