Massachusetts Celebrates Brain Building in Progress Week

Over 1,500 events to support families and promote early learning will take place in 62 cities and towns in April

 BOSTON – Across the Commonwealth, 62 cities and towns are joining the Brain Building in Progress campaign to recognize the importance of young children’s healthy development and learning by hosting over 1,500 community-based events throughout the month.  Governor Charles Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito have signed a proclamation declaring April 10-16 as “Brain Building in Progress Week” in Massachusetts, celebrating the importance of enriching and engaging environments that offer learning opportunities for young children.

Brain Building in Progress is a statewide campaign led by the Department of Early Education and Care and United Way to raise awareness of the critical importance of fostering the cognitive, social and emotional development of young children by emphasizing its future impact on the economic prosperity of everyone in Massachusetts. Brain Building in Progress Week also occurs during the national Week of the Young Child.

“The value of providing young children with enriching environments cannot be overstated because these experiences support the healthy development of their brains and establish a foundation for lifelong learning and future academic success,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Tom Weber.  “‘Brain Building in Progress Week’ is a recognition of the efforts that so many of our communities are engaged in throughout the year to help support children to learn and succeed.”

“Brain Building in Progress Week celebrates the businesses, local organizations, elected officials and early childhood programs that are coming together to give young children the best possible foundation for their future learning,” said Michael K. Durkin, president at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. “Together, we can do more than any of us can alone to ensure the educational success of all children.”

This is the fifth year the Commonwealth is celebrating Brain Building in Progress Week.  Examples of BBiP Week activities include:

• Countdown to Kindergarten is celebrating April 14 as Talk Read Play Day in Boston and will be hosting rhyming flash mobs at 11 am in multiple locations throughout the city
• The Ludlow Cares Coalition is hosting Brain Building in Progress: The Path to Kindergarten on Monday at 6 p.m.
• The North Shore Family Engagement Center is hosting a “Whalemobile” event at the Liberty Tree Mall on Tuesday, April 12 at 9:30 a.m.
• The Early Childhood Partners of Hamilton-Wenham will be holding their 3rd annual Brain Building in Progress Family Fun Night at the library on Tuesday, April 12  at 6:30 p
• The Birth to Three Family Center in Ipswich is holding a potluck dinner and Brain Building book and science night on Thursday, April 14 at 4 p.m.
• Pathways to Parents is hosting a Brain Building in Progress “Welcome Baby” event at the Longmeadow Library on Friday, April 15 at 12:30 p.m.

The campaign’s website, brainbuildinginprogress.org, has resources for parents, caregivers, organizations and businesses to use throughout the year.  These include “Brain Building” activity guides for families and educators, a searchable calendar of “Brain Building” activities across the state, a “Brain Building” Zone Finder that lists places that support “brain building” such as museums and libraries, and marketing resources for organizations to hold a Brain Building event or for businesses to create their own Brain Building Zones.  # # #