The Mississippi Early Learning Alliance (MELA), the Mississippi Early Childhood Association (MsECA), and Excel by 5 are excited to celebrate the Week of the Young Child (WOYC) on April 5 – 11, 2025. WOYC is trademarked by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and began in 1971. We are excited to bring awareness by elevating early childhood and strengthening Mississippi’s economy through child care.
NAEYC created a toolkit for ECE advocates to celebrate alongside child care centers. Each day focuses on ways to take action and support the early childhood community and our youngest learners.
Below is a social media toolkit for Mississippi child care centers and advocates to utilize and post at your discretion. We are excited to see and interact with your posts throughout the Week of the Young Child!
For more communications resources for the Mississippi Week of the Young Child, click here to access the full Communications Toolkit.
KICK-OFF SUNDAY
April 6, 2025
The Mississippi Week of the Young Child will kick off with free virtual call via Zoom on Sunday, April 5, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. The call is open to anyone and everyone! We will be discussing the newly signed WOYC Proclamation, outlining the week’s events, and covering each day’s theme.
Sunday’s Key Message: Child care is essential for economic growth. Mississippi’s economy depends on parents’ access to reliable, affordable child care, so they can get to work.
FACEBOOK POST:
Join us on Sunday, April 6, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to Kick-Off the Mississippi Week of the Young Child!
The Mississippi Early Learning Alliance (MELA), in partnership with the Mississippi Early Childhood Association and Excel By 5, Inc., are thrilled to celebrate the nationally recognized Week of the Young Child (WOYC), April 6-11, 2025.
We are going to start out the week with the Mississippi Week of the Young Child Kick-Off Call to discuss the Mississippi WOYC proclamation, spotlight a few child care centers, and share with you social media tactics for the week.
Click the following link to register for the WOCY Kick-Off Call!
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZgsYXfPDRiKtOuLzdCel-Q
#MSWOYC #KickOffCall #WOYC25 #ChildCareMatters
INSTAGRAM POST:
Join us on Sunday, April 6, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to Kick-Off the Mississippi Week of the Young Child!
The Mississippi Early Learning Alliance (MELA), in partnership with the Mississippi Early Childhood Association and Excel By 5, Inc., are thrilled to celebrate the nationally recognized Week of the Young Child (WOYC), April 6-11, 2025.
We are going to start out the week with the Mississippi Week of the Young Child Kick-Off Call to discuss the Mississippi WOYC proclamation, spotlight a few child care centers, and share with you social media tactics for the week.
Use the QR in the image to register for the WOCY Kick-Off Call!
#MSWOYC #KickOffCall #WOYC25 #ChildCareMatters
MUSIC MONDAY
April 7, 2025
Monday’s Key Message: Investment in the early years is critical!
Social Media Challenge:
Post videos of children engaging with music using the following hashtags:
#MSWOYC25
#WOYC25
#MusicMonday
#EarlyLearningMS
Facebook / Instagram Post:
Birth to age 3 is critical time for babies’ brain development. To build brains, babies need high-quality interactions every day – talking, reading, and singing from parents and caregivers. When parents have access to support systems like child care and health care, they are more knowledgeable and more capable of creating this strong start for their babies and toddlers – providing a foundation for this brain development and the growth into healthy children and as future Mississippi citizens.
X (Twitter) Post Language:
Birth to 3 is a critical time for babies’ brain development. Babies need high quality interactions with parents and caregivers. With access to support systems (child & health care), parents become more knowledgeable & capable to create a strong start for their children. #MSWOYC25
INVITE YOUR LEGISLATORS! Ask local officials to visit and see how play-based learning supports development.
TASTY TUESDAY
April 8, 2025
Key Messaging Focus: The importance of Early Childhood Nutrition and programs that support it!
Social Media Challenge:
– Promote nutritious eating habits for children
– Feature child care centers that prioritize healthy meal options
– Share photos of nutritious meals and snacks served at centers
Hashtags:
#MSWOYC25 #WOYC25 #TastyTuesday #EarlyChildhoodNutrition #HealthyKidsHealthyFutures
Option 1:
Facebook / Instagram Post:
For Mississippi’s babies to grow into strong, self-sufficient citizens, families need access to healthy, nutritious, affordable food! We are thankful for programs like WIC, which empower parents to choose and afford nutritious foods like fruit and whole grains and encourages breastfeeding. By supporting nutritious choices from birth, WIC strengthens our workforce, reduces healthcare costs, and secures our state’s future!
X (Twitter) Post Language:
Programs like WIC empower parents to choose & afford nutritious foods, & also encourages breastfeeding. By supporting nutritious choices from birth, WIC strengthens our workforce, reduces healthcare costs & secures our state’s future! #MSWOYC25 #TastyTuesday #WOYC25
Option 2:
Facebook / Instagram Post:
Did you know that Mississippi consistently has some of the highest grocery costs in the nation? We are thankful that starting in July of 2025, Mississippi’s grocery tax will decrease by 2%, making it more affordable for families to buy healthy food! We’re also thankful for programs like WIC that also help pregnant women and mothers afford healthy foods, like whole grains, meat, cheese, fresh fruit and vegetables that help their babies grow up healthy!
X (Twitter) Post Language:
Mississippi consistently has some of the highest grocery costs in the nation. Starting July 2025, Mississippi’s grocery tax will decrease by 2% making it more affordable for families to buy healthy food! #MSWOYC25 #TastyTuesday #WOYC25
INVITE YOUR LEGISLATORS! Ask local legislators, your mayor or news media to showcase how centers provide healthy meals and snacks that support childhood development.
WORK TOGETHER WEDNESDAY
April 9, 2025
Key Messaging Focus: Community & Business Engagement Day/Child care as a business and workforce issue!
Social Media Challenge:
– Share stories of working parents and the impact of child care on employment.
– Host roundtable discussions at child care centers about workforce shortages and the need for accessible child care.
Hashtags:
#MSWOYC25 #WOYC25 #ChildCareMatters #WorkTogetherWednesday #EarlyChildhood #ChildCareIsWorkforce
Facebook / Instagram Post:
Option 1: Child Care is a critical piece of economic Infrastructure with economic implications, especially when it comes to labor force participation. If parents who left the workforce due to caregiving responsibilities returned, Mississippi could gain an estimated $1.2 billion annually.
Option 2: Mississippi’s economic growth depends on parents’ access to child care. When child care is unaffordable, parents lose re-skilling and up-skilling opportunities, or choose to leave the workforce entirely or find ways to cut costs through inconsistent care. Yet, starting this month, thousands of Mississippi children will no longer have access to the child care subsidy (the Child Care Payment Program) that allowed their parents to go to work. What impact will that have on working parents and Mississippi businesses?
X (Twitter) Post Language:
Mississippi’s economic growth depends on parents’ access to child care. Starting March 2025, thousands of children will no longer have access to child care subsidy (Child Care Payment Program) that allowed their parents go to work. #MSWOYC25 #WorkTogetherWednesday #WOYC25
INVITE YOUR LEGISLATORS! Ask local business leaders and government officials to tour centers to see firsthand how quality child care supports working families.
ARTSY THURSDAY
April 10, 2025
Key Messaging Focus: Early Childhood Development is important to children’s future health and education, For children with delays, Early Intervention programs can improve children’s school readiness and educational outcomes.
Social Media Challenge:
– Showcase children’s artwork from early learning centers
– Encourage educators to highlight hands-on, creative projects in their classrooms
– Virtual art gallery featuring submissions from child care programs
Hashtags:
#MSWOYC25 #WOYC25 #ArtsyThursday #EarlyIntervention #CreativeKidsMS
Facebook / Instagram Post:
Art is more than just fun for young children; it’s a powerful tool to boost fine motor skills and support children’s development! In child care centers, creative expression through drawing, painting, and other forms of art helps children develop important skills, including: fine motor skills, communication, emotional expression, and cognitive development.
When art and art therapy activities are thoughtfully integrated into early childhood programs, they can also be used for children with developmental delays as an early intervention strategy. Early Intervention services help children with developmental disabilities to live independently and enter the workforce as adults. When families of young children access support early through early intervention services (ie., speech therapy, physical therapy, or occupational therapy), they can learn new skills faster and grow up to do better in school and life.
X (Twitter) Post Language:
Art is more than just fun for young children; it’s a powerful tool for early intervention! Early access to support through EI services help children learn new skills faster & grow up to do better in school & life. #MSWOYC25 #WOYC25 #ArtsyThursday
INVITE YOUR LEGISLATORS! Ask local officials to visit your center to show them how art supports fine motor skills, problem-solving, and self-expression.
FAMILY FRIDAY
April 11, 2025
Key Messaging Focus: Celebrating the need for Paid Family Leave!
Social Media Challenge:
Share stories from parents that have experienced successes or struggles with receiving paid family leave.
#MSWOYC25
#WOYC25
#FamilyFriday
#PaidFamilyLeave
#FamiliesMatter
Facebook / Instagram Post:
From the very beginning, early relationships with parents and caregivers shape babies’ brain connections that lay the foundation for lifelong learning. That is why it is critical for new parents to have as much time as possible away from work to bond with their newborn or newly adopted child.
We are thrilled that this year the Mississippi Legislature passed 6 weeks of paid leave for primary caregivers who are state employees! We hope that soon, all Mississippi parents and caregivers will be able to take this critical time to care and bond with their young children!
X (Twitter) Post Language:
It’s critical for new parents to bond with their newborn or newly adopted child. Bonding early lays foundations for lifelong learning success. In 2025, Mississippi Legislature passed 6 weeks paid family leave for state-employee, primary caregivers. #MSWOYC25 #FamilyFriday #WOYC25
INVITE YOUR LEGISLATORS! Ask local officials to your center to show how family engagement in child care programs strengthens communities.
CELEBRATION & REFLECTION
April 14, 2025
Key Messaging Focus: Quality child care benefits everyone. Investing in early education strengthens families, businesses, and the entire economy.
Hashtags:
#MSWOYC25
#WOYC25
#ChildCareMatters
This is a day to reflect on the activities, successes, and all the captured moments from the 2025 Week of the Young Child. Repost your favorite moments and talk about all you did for the young children in your lives. Send a thank-you letter to the legislators, mayors, and local leaders that visited your center or participated in the WOYC activities. Use this opportunity to advocate for more substantial support for early childhood programs in Mississippi.
Honoring Educators & Advocates:
– Thank early educators, families, and advocates for their dedication
– Recap the week’s highlights and success stories
– Encourage continued engagement with child care policy efforts
THANK YOUR LEGISLATORS! Use this final day to ensure policymakers commit to ongoing discussions on child care access and quality.