04/16/10 - 16
Mt Vernon, NY
Pajama party held during "Week of the Young Child" at Mt. Vernon Public Library

     Annually, the Week of the Young Child is celebrated throughout the country starting April 11 through the 17. The week is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the world’s largest early childhood education association. The purpose of the week is to focus on the needs of young children and their families.
     On Thursday, April 15, the Week of the Young Child was celebrated at the Mount Vernon Public Library with a pajama party. Nearly 50 young children, accompanied by their parents and clad in pajamas, crowded into the library's children's section for an evening of fun and games, along with a story reading session.
     The event was sponsored by the Westchester Jewish Community Services and  organized by their Early Childhood Matters, in conjunction with Parent Child Center and Parent Child Home Program.
     Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) is a non-sectarian, not-for-profit, broad based human service agency dedicated to helping people of all ages cope with emotional, cognitive, environmental, physical, social and educational challenges.  
     Spearheading the activities at the pajama party was Patrice Cuddy, program director for above stated WJCS groups, who explained to the parents that the purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services offered by WJCS that meet those needs.
     She was accompanied by Kevin Robinson, who entertained the children with taped songs and a story telling period at the end of their play session.
     The Mount Vernon Public Library, co-sponsors of the event, provided every child with a book to take home, and they also served refreshments, along with cookies to all the children that participated in the annual pajama party.

Patrice Cuddy speaking to the children's parents

Children mimicking Kevin Robinson during a sing-along

Kevin Robinson speaking to the children