Week of the Young Child
April 12th - 18th, 2026
Week of the Young Child celebrates young children and their caregivers and helps increase the awareness and importance of early childhood.
This community-wide event is a unique opportunity to show our youngest residents, and those who care for them, they are valued and they are not alone.
This is not a comprehensive list of events, please keep an eye on our events page for additional events, activities and details!
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We will have fun activities for the kids, resources for the caregivers and giveaways for the family at the Lewis & Clark Library from 11 am - 1 pm.
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Sunday, April 12th at 3-5 pm
This event will be for those who have experienced loss on their parenting journey through infertility, pregnancy loss, infant loss or child loss.
We will create something in honor of your little one(s) at the Archie Bray.
Adults and children over 6 years are welcome to join the class.
Please click here to sign up ahead of time!
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Free music class with Joslyn Dollar of Music Together - Helena Valley.
RSVP required - link coming soon.
Click here to learn more about Music Together.
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Join Harvest of the Month at the Food Share Community Room anytime between 10 am - noon to make (and eat) a snack!
Helena Indian Alliance will be hosting a delicious dinner with an opportunity to learn more about Pow Wows.
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Join us for our annual Reading in the Rotunda event at the Montana Capitol building. There will be local celebrities reading to children, small resource fair for caregivers and activities to keep you all busy.
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ExplorationWorks will be doing a special themed Early Explorers class today!
More details coming.
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Montana WILD will be doing Gyotaku Fish Printing at 3:30–4:30 PM
Register ahead of time by calling Montana WILD: 406-444-9941Archie Bray will be doing a tour for anyone interested at 4-4:50 PM! There are so many things to see on their campus but most importantly: how many of Richard Swanson’s ceramic tops can you find!?
RSVP ahead of time by filling out this form.
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The Farm Tour is BACK! Visit Rocking Tree Farms between 10 am - 1 pm.
Visit the Holter Museum of Art for free for the Youth Electrum Exhibit.
Stonetree Climbing will be celebrating with a special offer, too - details coming soon!
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YMCA Helena is going to have a wonderful celebration today - more details to come!
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Preschoolers get to visit their future schools to see where they will be going and meet some of the people who will be taking care of them!
Click here to find your neighborhood school.
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We want you to be recognized for the amazing work you do.
Loft Helena is offering free classes to any early childhood professionals for the entire Week of the Young Child!
Stonetree Climbing Gym has a special offer just for you - details coming soon.
Our friends from Lewis & Clark Public Health prepping our Pinwheel Pals for their showcase
Pinwheel Pal #23
Pinwheel Pal #122 aka The Denim Queen
Pinwheel Pal #132
ECC Bags with Free Book and Resources
Kickoff Event Highlights 2024
Kickoff Event 2024
Kickoff Event 2024
Kickoff Event 2024
Kickoff Event 2024
Kickoff Event 2024
Self-Care Sunday: Loss Parents honoring their little ones at Painted Pot
Self-Care Sunday: Loss Parents honoring their little ones at Painted Pot
Music Monday with Joslyn Dollar from Music Together
Tasty Tuesday with Kadeisha from Harvest of the Month
Tasty Tuesday with Kadeisha from Harvest of the Month
Tasty Tuesday with Kadeisha from Harvest of the Month
Reading in the Rotunda with Catie
Reading in the Rotunda with Molly
Reading in the Rotunda with Miss Teen Montana reading "Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?" (Our guess is yes, this princess wears hiking boots!)
Reading in the Rotunda with Miss Teen Montana
Reading in the Rotunda with Miss Teen Montana letting kids try on a real tiara. ❤
Reading in the Rotunda with Miss Teen Montana letting kids try on a real tiara. ❤
Reading in the Rotunda
Reading in the Rotunda with Cat in the Hat
Reading in the Rotunda with Cat in the Hat
Reading in the Rotunda
Reading in the Rotunda: Storytime with Blue Bear
Reading in the Rotunda
Reading in the Rotunda coloring bookmarks
Reading in the Rotunda coloring bookmarks
Reading in the Rotunda: Playing Connect 4
Reading in the Rotunda: Exploring the Capitol Building
Tinkergarten Class at Mount Helena City Park
Tinkergarten Class at Mount Helena City Park
Tinkergarten Class at Mount Helena City Park
Preschooler getting to explore her future school at Central
Free bowling time at Sleeping Giant Lanes
Free jump time at Flying Giant
Free jump time at Flying Giant
Free Sprinkles at Big Dipper
More information
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90% of a child's brain develops by age 5. The experiences a child has early in life impacts how their brain develops, which influences their ability to learn in school and how they will function as an adult.
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Click here to see the brochure for an overview of how to be involved.
Fill out this form to let us know what you’re interested in.
Our audience is children 0-8 years old but even if you don’t specifically work with that age of children, we can still be creative in how we show our community we support our children and those who raise them. We are open to hear your ideas. Reach out and we can chat!
Contact: Maureen at mbjerke@sphealth.org or 406-461-4449 (call or text).
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Visit National Association for the Education of Young Children's (NAEYC) website to learn more about the national Week of the Young Child.
