Advocating for Joyful Learning: The True Impact of WOYC25

Every April, early childhood educators, families, and advocates come together to celebrate the Week of the Young Child (WOYC)—a time to recognize the importance of early learning and the educators who help young children thrive. However, while WOYC25 is a week of celebration, it is also a call to action. Ensuring that all children have access to joyful, developmentally appropriate learning experiences requires more than just recognition—it demands engagement, advocacy, and a commitment to sustained action.

Celebrating WOYC25 Through Play and Learning

WOYC25 provides a structured yet flexible way for educators, families, and communities to highlight the significance of early childhood education. Each day of the week features a different theme, reinforcing the many ways children learn and grow.

• Music Monday: Encourages movement and musical exploration, fostering creativity and early literacy skills.

• Tasty Tuesday: Highlights healthy eating habits and hands-on food preparation to build sensory and cognitive connections.

• Work Together Wednesday: Promotes collaboration and problem-solving through group projects and cooperative learning.

• Artsy Thursday: Emphasizes self-expression and fine motor skill development through art-based activities.

• Family Friday: Recognizes the role of families in a child’s learning journey and encourages meaningful engagement.

These themes serve as a reminder that joyful learning happens in many forms—through music, movement, collaboration, and family connections.

The Power of Joyful Learning: Research-Backed and Essential

Decades of research confirm that joyful, play-based learning supports cognitive, social, and emotional development. Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) is not just a preference—it’s a necessity. When children engage in hands-on, interactive experiences, they build foundational skills in ways that are meaningful and lasting.

Yet, in many early learning settings, policies continue to push standardized testing, scripted curricula, and academic rigor in early grades, often at the cost of creativity and engagement. The disconnect between what we know and what we do in early childhood classrooms is one of the greatest challenges facing the field today.

At the Joyful Learning Collaborative (JLC), we are committed to promoting research-based, developmentally appropriate practices that center joy, engagement, and curiosity in early learning. As a collective of educators, researchers, and advocates, we recognize that joyful learning is not just an ideal—it is essential for positive developmental and academic outcomes.

Encouraging Engagement: Making WOYC25 Meaningful

WOYC25 serves as an opportunity to highlight joyful learning, but it should also inspire action. Here’s how educators, families, and advocates can use this week to reinforce developmentally appropriate practices and advocate for high-quality early learning experiences:

1. Incorporate the daily themes into your classroom or home. These activities provide accessible, engaging ways to support whole-child development.

2. Use WOYC25 as a platform to share best practices. Educators can showcase successful learning environments that embrace play-based learning, arts integration, and collaborative projects.

3. Encourage families to participate. Simple activities like cooking together, making music, or exploring nature can strengthen learning beyond the classroom.

4. Advocate for joyful learning in schools and communities. Share stories, host discussions, and connect with local leaders to emphasize the importance of play and developmentally appropriate learning.

5. Consider creating your own proclamation. Following NAEYC’s guidelines, schools and communities can declare their support for early childhood education and commit to policies that prioritize joyful learning.

Join the Conversation!

We want to hear from you! How are you celebrating WOYC25? How do you incorporate joyful learning into your teaching or home environment? Join the conversation by commenting on this post or engaging with us on social media. Your stories, ideas, and insights help build a community that values and protects joyful learning for all children.

Keeping the Momentum Beyond WOYC25

The Week of the Young Child is a time of celebration, but it should also catalyze long-term change. The principles we champion during this week must guide our work year-round. If we truly believe in the power of joyful learning, we must ensure that children have access to environments that nurture curiosity, creativity, and engagement every day.

How will you advocate for joyful learning beyond WOYC25? Let’s use this week to spark inspiration and continue the movement toward meaningful, developmentally appropriate education for all young learners.