Celebrate Babies Week 2024
Every year, Infant Mental Health Associations across the globe come together for a special week dedicated to honoring infants, toddlers, young children, their families, and the incredible early childhood professionals who support them. Join us and thousands of others as we Celebrate Babies and the vital relationships that help them thrive!
Celebrate Babies with AIMH HI - A week dedicated to celebrating infants, toddlers, young children, their families and early childhood professionals across the globe! Visit www.celebratebabiesweek.org for more information.
Check out below for Celebrate Babies Week 2024 recap!
Day 1: He Keiki Aloha Nā Mea Kanu. Plants are beloved children; with nourishment, care and love, they flourish. We kicked off Celebrate Babies Week with a fun game just for you: Who’s That Baby? Where individuals took a guess at which of our team members matches each adorable baby photo for a chance to win a gift card.
Day 2: “He lei poina ‘ole ke keiki.” A lei never forgotten is the beloved child.
We continued Day 2 of Celebrate Babies week by sharing this video of lei making with keiki and their ohana. In this video, you’ll find more information on how bonding with your keiki through learning about your culture can create deep and meaningful connections.
Giving and receiving a lei symbolizes the sharing of Aloha, encompassing love, compassion, and kindness. Thus, the lei serves as a tangible representation of the interconnectedness and warmth defining the Hawaiian spirit.
Day 3: "Lana kakou i ka hau'oli o ha'i." We rise by uplifting others
We rise as a community when we uplift local Hawaiian voices, especially those creating children's books that celebrate the unique culture, language, and stories of the islands. By supporting these writers, we help preserve Hawaiian traditions and pass down the values of aloha, ʻohana, and respect for the land to future generations. When keiki see themselves reflected in the stories, characters, and settings of their homeland, it strengthens their connection to their heritage and instills pride in who they are. Promoting the work of local Hawaiian authors not only enriches the literary world but also ensures that the voices of Hawaiʻi's people and culture continue to thrive for generations to come. On day 3, we shared local books for keiki.
Day 4: Part of Celebrating Babies is ensuring that those who make policies impacting our community recognize the importance of the first five years of life. On day 4 of Celebrate Babies Week, we shared the proclamation issued by Governor Josh Green recognizing this week, October 21st - 25th, 2024 as Celebrate Babies Week in Hawaiʻi.
The Kids Count Data Book provides population data on children across the United States from birth to age 17. Hawaii is home to 77,646 children under age four, as of 2023. From 2018 to 2022, 12.4% of children under age six in Hawaii lived in poverty, while 30% were in low-income families. Additionally, 28.2% of children in Hawaii come from immigrant families, with 77,000 children fitting this category in 2022. Moreover, 36.1% of families in Hawaii had children during the same period, offering a broad view of child well-being in the state.
Did you know:
A supportive relationship with a caring adult can help mitigate the effects of toxic stress. Learn more
Play is critically important work for babies and toddlers! Learn more
Our earliest experiences provide the foundation for later brain development. Learn more
References:
Day 5: ʻAʻohe puʻu kiʻekiʻe ke hoʻāʻo ʻia e piʻi. No cliff is so tall it cannot be climbed.
On day 5, we celebrated babies by hosting a hike at Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail. Mahalo to those who were able to join us!