April is Month of the Young Child
Join us to celebrate young children and the caregivers with free family-friendly activities throughout Windham County, Vermont!
It’s a time to turn our attention to the many people, places and programs that support the healthy development of our next generation by laying the foundation for their success.
The festivities aren’t only about fun, they’re also about learning! We know that about 90% of the brain is developed by age 5 and the first 1,000 days (3 years) are a window of opportunity to invest in for the future. That means that all activities young children engage in – from simple routines to exciting adventures like hay ride around a local farm to interactive puppet performances – can have a lasting impact on their growth and development. There will be singing and dancing, story time and art making, nature hikes and much more!
MOYC is sponsored by the Winston Prouty Center, Building Bright Futures of Southeastern Vermont, Hilltop Montessori, Early Education Services, and the Windham Early Childhood Educators Coop.
Stay up-to-date on event activities at the Month of the Young Child Facebook Page
2022 EVENTS
Launch of Windham County Resource Calendar
Friday, April 1
Check-out the new web-based calendar promoting family programming throughout Windham County, including classes for children 0-18. In addition to the calendar, this platform includes the popular Parenting In Your Pocket Resource Guide, putting important family resources at your fingertips. This calendar is a collaborative service project between Early Education Services, Rockingham Free Public Library, Winston Prouty Center, and the Building Bright Futures Council of Southeastern Vermont. To view the calendar, go to: www.rockinghamlibrary.org/calendar
18th Annual Young Children’s Art Exhibit Opening Event
Saturday, April 2, 10:00-12:30
Living Memorial Park, 61 Guilford St, Brattleboro
Come enjoy the work of our community’s youngest artists! Early childhood educators will be displaying their students’ artistic creations. Hands-on activities, refreshments, and information on resources in our community will be available. Event will include demonstration by Southern Vermont Natural History Museum, Sing & Dance performance by Robin Morgan, giveaways by Cheshire Children’s Museum, visit from Early Learning Express Bookmobile and FREE 10-minute chair massages for parents and caregivers by massage therapists Michele Meulendyk and Lynette Aura Pritchard.
Free Bowling for Families
April 3, 9, 16, 19, 21, 24 and 30, 1:00-3:00pm
Brattleboro Bowl, 865 Putney Rd, Brattleboro
Hosted by Early Education Services. Shoes included. Pre-registration required. Contact Sandy Stark at sstark@wsesdvt.org for more info and to sign-up.
Early Education Services Diaper Giveaway
Saturday, April 9
Early Education Services, 130 Birge St, Brattleboro
Sign-up in advance to pick up your two free packages of diapers. Contact Sandy Stark at sstark@wsesdvt.org.
Read and Imagine with Everywhere Philosophy
Saturday, April 9, 11:00-11:45 [**rescheduled from April 16**]
Winston Prouty Campus, Austine Dr, Brattleboro
Are imaginary friends real friends and what does it even mean to be real? Join Everywhere Philosophy for a story, discussion and activity about friendship, imagination, and existence through Dan Santat’s, The Adventures of Beekle, The Unimaginary Friend.
Preschool Art Fun Kits
Monday, April 11 – Friday, April 15, 10:00-4:00
River Gallery School Main Street Studio, 32 Main Street, Brattleboro
Free art kits available for pick-up. Please email Jess at jess@rivergalleryschool.org to reserve a kit.
Parent Tot Open Gym
Thursday, April 14, 10-11:45
Gibson Aiken Center, 207 Main St, Brattleboro
Open Gym is a place for parents and tots to come together and enjoy playing with playhouses, cars, toys, tunnel, a play kitchen, big rubber balls and more!
Puppet Show and Banjo Sing-Along at NEYT
Saturday, April 16, 11:00-11:30
New England Youth Theater, 100 Flat St. Brattleboro
Come to the New England Youth Theatre for a puppet show and banjo sing-along! Also, get a backstage tour of the show now on stage: Frozen, JR. For more info, contact Putnam Smith: putnam@neyt.org.
Crafternoons!
Monday, April 18 and Wednesday, April 20 1:00-4:00
Townshend Public Library, 1971 VT-30, Townshend
For families to enjoy some craft time together. Supplies included. Open to all! Contact Karen LaRue with questions: 802-365-4039
Annie at The Club
Tuesday, April 19, Tour at 11:30, Performance at 12:00
The Boys and Girls Club of Brattleboro, 17 Flat St, Brattleboro
Musical performer Annie Quest, formerly of the famous duo “The Annies” will perform a children’s concert. The Boys & Girls Club will offer a tour and open house at 11:30 prior to the show. Pre-registration required. Visit www.bgcbrattleboro.org for more info.
Sandglass Theater presents Punschi
Wednesday, April 20, 10:00
Hilltop Montessori School Art Barn, 99 Stafford Hill Rd. Brattleboro
PUNSCHI is an exciting hand puppet show full of humor, adventure and zest, performed under a big sun umbrella. Kasper, the comical cow, prepares to go on a journey in this two-act puppet show. This show follows in the tradition of European style fairground entertainment with lots of call-and-response between puppets and audience, accompanied by the ukulele and physical comedy. Join us outside for this exciting and fun show! Please bring a folding outdoor chair for a comfortable viewing experience.
Play.Date.
Friday, April 22, 5:00-8:00pm
The Boys and Girls Club of Brattleboro, 17 Flat St, Brattleboro
Play.Date. is a program designed by the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance that provides area families with accessible, enriching, quality childcare and gives parents the opportunity to eat, shop and explore. Register at this link. For more info, visit www.brattleboro.com/downtown/play-date
Wonder in the Woods Nature Walk
Saturday, April 23, 10:30-12:00
Wonder in the Woods, 565 Green Mountain Camp Rd, Dummerston
Come hike the gentle trails on our wooded grounds. We’ll look for animal tracks, native plants, and various signs of Spring.
Paint Your Own Pottery
Saturday, April 23, Two sessions: 9:00-10:00 and 10:00 to 11:00
Timson Hill Preschool, 13 Timson Hill Rd, Williamsville
Gather for some hands-on pottery fun! Pre-registration required. Contact Kristina at director@timsonhill.org for more information and to sign-up.
Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 23, time TBD
Grafton Nature Museum 186 Townshend Rd, Grafton
Details TBA, contact Jay at jay@nature-museum.org for more details.
Celebrating Spring at Retreat Farm
Saturday, April 23, 10:00-2:00
Retreat Farm, 45 Farmhouse Square, Brattleboro
Join us for free family activities on the Farm! From 10-12, educators Lu and Ashley will help you welcome spring with bean planting for your home garden in the Forest Playground. Families will be invited to investigate three different types of bean seeds, decorate a paper pot, and plant a bean of their choice to bring home with them. Bean plant care cards will be provided. From 12-2, Robin will lead a special spring Pop-Up-Art in the Forest Playground. Children and adults alike can participate and take home their creations.
How to Save for Your Child’s Future: The 529 Basics
Tuesday, April 26, 4:00-5:00pm
Edward Jones, 263 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT
Stop by to gather information from financial advisors about strategies to save for your child’s future.
Signs of Spring Nature Hike
Saturday, April 30, 10:00-12:00
The Grammar School, 69 Hickory Ridge Road South, Putney
We’ll look for Signs of Spring among our wooded trails, stream and small pond. Healthy snack provided following the hike. Sturdy footwear or rainboots recommended. More info: kbrautig@thegrammarschool.org
Visit Wild Carrot Farm
Saturday, April 30, 10:00-12:00
Wild Carrot Farm, 511 Upper Dummerston Road, Brattleboro
Meet the animals, have a horse drawn hayride and enjoy a take home Spring planting project. Outdoor activity, masks required.
ONGOING EVENTS
18th Annual Young Children’s Art Exhibit
Living Memorial Park, 61 Guilford St, Brattleboro
Come enjoy the work of our community’s youngest artists. Early childhood educators will be displaying their students’ artistic creations along the playground fence all month long.
The BASICS RAFFLE for Families with 0-3 year olds
Sign up to receive FREE BASICS TEXT MESSAGES that share brain boosting activities for infants & toddlers. Your name will go into a raffle to win a basket filled with BASIC Brain Development Tools for both adults & children, including books, gift cards, toys and other fun treats! This service is supported by Early Education Services & Building Bright Futures Council of Southeastern Vermont. Sign-up at bit.ly/basicsvt
Spring Activity Bags
Community Hope and Action will provide activity bags to all families who would like one during the month of April. These will be filled with outdoor and indoor springtime activities fun for all ages. Call 802-365-4700
Story Book Walk
Retreat Farm, 45 Farmhouse Square, Brattleboro
Muddy puddles, bursting buds, and curious birds. What signs of spring have you noticed lately? Learn all about how nature wakes up from a long winter snooze in Retreat Farm’s April Storybook Walk: Busy Spring: Nature Wakes Up by Sean Taylor. The Storybook Walk is open for families to enjoy dusk-dawn, seven days a week.
Craft Bag Kits
Weekdays 10:30-6:00 and Saturdays 10:00-3:00
Putney Public Library, 55 Main St, Putney
Each kit includes instructions, multiple paper bags, and ribbon. You’ll need scissors, a hole punch, and paints, markers, or crayons. Be creative! Have fun!
Children’s Art Exhibit
Crowell Gallery, Moore Free Library, 23 West St, Newfane
Children’s Art Exhibit throughout the month of April. Opening event details TBD
PROMOTIONS
Everyone’s Books
25 Elliot St, Brattleboro
15% off children’s books the whole month of April and 20% off for store members.
Cheshire Children’s Museum
149 Emerald St, Keene, NH
Free admission with voucher. Vouchers available at the Young Children’s Art Exhibit at Memorial Park in Brattleboro on April 2nd.
Bartleby’s Books
17 West Main St, Wilmington
Mention “Month of the Young Child” and receive 25% off all children’s books on Saturday, April 23.
The Putney Food Co-op
8 Carol Brown Way, Putney
The Putney Co-op is kicking off Month of the Young Child with a FREE chocolate chip cookie to children (8-and-under) all day Saturday, April 2nd! Cookies are located at the Deli register. More info: 387-5866
