This is national observance of Week of the Young Child. Like their counterparts across the country, educators and their young students at the Rock Hill Child Development Center have a number of activities planned in celebration of

the week.

"This is to celebrate childhood," Rock Hill Child Development Center Director Johnna Lunsford said. "We want the children to know they are important and to let them know how much we care about them."

Monday, children at Rock Hill celebrated with a balloon launch.

"The balloons have messages in them and the kids are anxious to see how far the balloons go and if they get any letters back," Lunsford said. Today family members are invited to come to the school and have breakfast with their child. On Wednesday, storyteller Sharon Haines will visit. On Thursday, the school will have a carnival. On Friday, the week's activities will be capped off with a visit by staff members from Kindermusic of Ashland, Ky.

Students and educators at the Lawrence County Early Childhood Center in South Point will observe the event next week.