Troy Mayor Jason A. Reeves signed a proclamation Tuesday at Troy Head Start Center declaring April 11-15 the Week of the Young Child in Troy.

Reeves told the young children that they are important to the future of Troy and the nation.
“You are so important that you have your own week and we are celebrating this week as The Week of the Young Child – and it’s your week,” Reeves said. “Here at Head Start, you are learning early in life that we need to work together so we can all have great futures.”
For the three- to five-year-old students at Troy Head Start, the celebration of “their” week got off to a fun start with a parade around the community on Monday and to an impressive start with the visit from Mayor Reeves on Tuesday.

Dorsey Fayson, Head Start director, said special activities and events are planned throughout the week to make the students feel as special as they are.

“Today is Dad’s Day and dads are invited to visit Head Start and they will have an opportunity to read to the children,” Fayson said. “Thursday is Grandparents Day and the grandparents will visit the classrooms and see the wonderful work the children are doing.

“Friday is Fun Day. The children will go outside and play and just have a good time together. We’ll also have a balloon launch. The balloons will be launched in honor of the Week of the Young Child.”

Fayson said Head Start is playing a very important role in the lives of young children.

“This program is fundamental to the growth and development of our three- to five-year-old children,” she said. “Head Start prepares the children for first grade. We read to the children and that fosters a love of reading in them. They like to sit in a chair and tell the other children about the pictures in a book or they read to them from their memory of a story that was read to them.  Reading is fundamental. It is the stepping-stone to every needed aspect of life. We need to read to function on a daily basis.”

The Head Start program also provides nurturing for the children.

“Our meals are served family style to give a sense of ‘our’ family here,” Fayson said. “We encourage parents and others to volunteer in order to give the children a sense of belonging. Head Start is important and it’s important for the children to know they are important. That’s what this week in about.”