Celebrate Young Child Week

Senate Resolution No. 3510 BY: Senator GRIFFO MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 16-20, 2018, as The Week of the Young Child in the State of New York WHEREAS, New York State has long been committed to meeting the educational needs of all its children; and WHEREAS, It is increasingly being recognized that a strong early education helps to provide the educational foundation which is of paramount importance to the health, well-being, and development of children; and WHEREAS, The Week of the Young Child, celebrated since 1971, provides an opportunity for people across this great State and Nation to consider the needs of young children and families, and how to most effectively meet them; and WHEREAS, The Week of the Young Child is an annual April celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation's largest organization of early childhood professionals, which has more than 90,000 members; and WHEREAS, Recognizing the importance of early childhood years, birth through age eight, in shaping children's learning and development and, therefore, their success in school and later in life, The Week of the Young Child calls attention to the needs of young children, their families, and the early childhood programs which serve them; and WHEREAS, It is increasingly clearly documented that a good start in life can promote learning and prevent impairment, while an adverse learning environment can compromise brain function and place children at risk of developing a variety of cognitive, behavioral, and physical difficulties; yet a significant number of children confront one or more major risk factors, such as inadequate health care, parents who lack adequate family and community support, substandard child care and education, poverty, or insufficient attention by parents because of workplace or other pressures; and WHEREAS, By focusing on the importance of high quality early childhood, child care, and parent support programs, facilities and staff, participation in The Week of the Young Child represents a worthy commitment to our children's future and encourages improvement in the quality and availability of programs and services; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 16-20, 2018, as The Week of the Young Child in the State of New York, and to applaud those who have dedicated their lives to our children, and to recognize the significance of the role children of New York State will play in shaping the future of our State, our society, and our government; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.