There are high-quality early learning programs in every Chicago neighborhood. CPS Pre-K programs offer free full-day programs for every four-year-old, while Community-Based programs serve children up to age five with no-cost to low-cost options.
The Initial Application Period will open on April 9 for the 2024–25 school year, and once it does, it is your best chance to secure your child’s spot at high-quality preschools across Chicago before seats fill up!
Week of the Young Child® (April 8–12, 2024) celebrates early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities. It is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to promote the importance of early childhood education.
Monday April 8, 2024
Early learners have a natural interest in exploring music and sound. Engaging your child in music-related activities can provide hours of fun and countless opportunities for learning.
Age: 2 years and up. Adult supervision is recommended.
Supplies:
Step 1: Cover one end of the paper towel roll with duct tape.
Step 2: Insert a long rolled-up piece of aluminum foil into the paper towel roll
Step 3: Fill the inside of the paper towel roll 1/4 full with the mixture of corn kernels, rice, and small noodles.
Step 4: Cover the other end of the paper towel roll with tape.
Step 5 (optional): Wrap construction paper around the paper towel roll.
Step 6: Move the rainstick from side to side and listen to the sound it makes!
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Share a photo or video of your child participating in Music Monday with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Age: 2 years and up. Adult supervision is recommended.
Supplies:
Step 1: Fill an empty plastic egg about 1/4 full with rice.
Step 2: Secure the egg around the middle with tape.
Step 3: Make a beat with your shakers!
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Share a photo or video of your child participating in Music Monday with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Tuesday April 9, 2024
Food play and other sensory activities help young children learn through hands-on approaches. Food-related activities can also develop and improve language and motor skills by engaging your child’s senses.
Age: 1 year and up. Adult supervision is recommended.
Supplies:
Step 1: Dump a bunch of cereal into your small plastic bin and add a pipe cleaner for each color.
Step 2: Color sort and thread the cereal onto the different colored pipe cleaners.
Step 3: Use the spoon to scoop and sort colors into the muffin tin.
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Share a photo or video of your child participating in Tasty Tuesday with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Wednesday April 10, 2024
Playing with puzzles has a significant impact on a child's physical skills, developing fine motor skills through the coordination of small muscles. By working as a team, you can promote important life skills like problem-solving, listening, leadership, and creative thinking.
Age: 2 years and up. Adult supervision is recommended.
Supplies (if you don’t already have a puzzle at home):
Step 1: You can use a puzzle you already have or make your own! You can do this by drawing a picture with your toddler and cutting it up.
Step 2: Then scatter the pieces and work together with your toddler to put your homemade puzzle together!
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Share a photo or video of your child participating in Work Together Wednesday with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Thursday April 11, 2024
Early learners are naturally curious and love to experiment with colors, textures, and art tools. Art activities can help your child convey ideas, express emotion, use their senses, explore color, and explore processes and outcomes.
Age: 2 years and up. Adult supervision is recommended.
Supplies:
Step 1: You will need to prepare your paper towels. Do this by taking a square of paper towel and folding it in half. Then cut the paper towel so you end up with a small square with another small square behind it.
Step 2: Take a permanent marker and draw an image on the top layer of the folded paper towel.
Step 3: When you lift up the top layer of the paper towel you will see that the pen has gone through the paper towel onto the layer below. Now, it is time to color in this outline or add to your image. Color the image with washable markers so the color bleeds when it is put into water.
Step 4: Place the paper towel into the water. As the water soaks through the two layers of the paper towel, the colors from the bottom layer will appear through the top layer, making it look as if the colors or images have appeared by magic.
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Share a photo or video of your child participating in Artsy Thursday with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Friday April 12, 2024
Family Friday is all about spending quality time with the family! Family Friday focuses on engaging families to support our youngest learners.
Does your family have a favorite activity to do together?
Set aside some family time, whether it's to go to the park or watch a movie together. After all, Parents and families are children's first teachers.
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Share your Family Friday activity with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Early childhood educators play a crucial role in setting children up for success in life. Their specialization provides a nurturing and stimulating environment that promotes children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development and lays the foundation for children's future success in school and life.
Thank you, early childhood educators, for your dedication to helping each child reach their full potential!
Update your profile pic on social media this week to show your support for early childhood education!
You can easily download our pre-made profile image here and upload it to any of your social media pages or download our pre-made email signature banner here.
Set up an area in the front of your school or classroom where parents can take a photo of their child celebrating Week of the Young Child®. You can download and print the signs below. You can also get creative with the photo booth area by decorating it.
Download and print this sign for students to take a photo with at your photo booth.
Remind families to post their photos on social media, showing their support for early childhood education! They can use the hashtags #EarlyLearningChicago #EarlyLearningForEveryone and tag Chicago Early Learning.
Share a photo or video of your students participating in the daily activities with us on Facebook, and Instagram by tagging us @chicagoearlylearning and using the hashtags #EarlyLearningChicago #EarlyLearningForEveryone.
