According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, one-quarter of the nation’s 3.7 million undergraduate students were single parents in 2010.

Early childhood professionals are celebrating April as the Month of the Young Child (MOYC), and the Children’s Enrichment Center of GVSU has provided several events this month to advocate protection, awareness and promotion of young children.

The university has celebrated the Month of the Young Child for four years.

“We need the campus community to pull together to support student-parents,” said Sharalle Arnold, director of the Children’s Enrichment Center. “Unlike a traditional student, our student families are often forced to work along with the balance of schoolwork and childcare outside the home.”

This year, the main events will focus on educating families and developing scholarships to provide aid to students who need childcare.

The month and its events are already underway, and a Brown Bag lunch day called “Making Healthy Choices” took place Saturday.

“Families are misguided to believe you have to have certain finances to eat healthy,” Arnold said. “This education piece helps families become more familiar with healthy food options and preparation in a way that’s fun.”

There will be a variety of events throughout the week to celebrate the month.

“Our effort is to bring awareness to issues that directly impact young children and families,” Arnold said. “This event is an opportunity to view artwork created and inspired by GVSU’s youngest students.”

Elaine Collins, dean of the college of Education, supported the efforts to highlight the artwork produced by the children.

“The arts play a central role in the development of young children, i.e. cognition, motor skills, language and social skills,” Collins said. “As such, it is critical that funding be provided to support quality art experiences.”

The GVSU community can support GVSU’s youngest students by contributing to the Dollar Day Campaign. The goal is to receive $1 each from faculty and staff, which will provide a scholarship for students with the burden of childcare costs.

“Student parents are a diverse group with very specific needs that need very specific services and resources,” Arnold said. “Childcare access on a college campus is critical to the success of student families.”

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