The Children’s Institute at Eastern Michigan University has a number of events throughout April to celebrate the Month of the Young Child.
One of its largest events is the art show held every year at Ford Gallery, which will start with a reception at 4 p.m. April 18.
“Each child has a piece of art in the show that is framed and displayed,” said Rebecca Forsyth, a teacher at the Children’s Institute. “There are other displays from the children. We have an auction every other year, and this is the year of the auction.”
Not every piece in the exhibit will be auctioned, but there are 12 collaborative pieces up for grabs. It’s a silent auction, and it will run until the end of the exhibit on April 18. The gallery is open to all students at EMU and members of the community from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Children’s Institute is also holding a bake sale next Thursday between Marshall and Porter and outside the library. Forsyth said they will be selling cookies, rice crispy treats and drinks to raise money for playground equipment at the Institute and for a children’s charity.
The rain date for the bake sale is set for the following Tuesday.
For students at the Children’s Institute and their families, there are more events in April.
At 5:30 p.m. today, the Institute is holding Doll Night, an arts and crafts workshop for students and their families to create things to put around campus.
“We try to plan activities where parents can do special activities with their kids,” Forsyth said. “The first activity is making arts and crafts, and the next is a dance. They’re fun socializing activities to get parents involved with their kids. We’re celebrating the kids, their families, and what programs do to help.”
The Family Fun Night Dance the Institute is holding will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 15. The month’s activities conclude with a family breakfast at 7:30 a.m April 26.
Both of these events are for students at the Children’s Institute and their families only.
More information on each of these events will be available closer to the date they’ll be held. Email the Children’s Institute at emu.ci@emich.edu or call them at 734-487-0286 for more information. Their business hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information on other Michigan “Month of the Young Child” events, visit the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children website at www.miaeyc.org/moyc.htm
Month of the Young Child events
Today — Doll Night, arts and crafts (for Children’s Institute students and families only)
April 14 — Bake sale between Marshall and Porter and outside Halle Library
April 15 — Family Fun Night Dance (students and familes only)
April 18-21 — Art exhibit at Ford Gallery, which includes a silent auction of 12 pieces, all made by students at the Children’s Institute. Reception at 4 p.m. April 18.
April 26 — Family breakfast (students and families only)__
