Location of life-size Chutes and Ladders changed Friday
By Matt Caulder
Published in News on April 10, 2013 1:46 PM
The life-size game of Chutes and Ladders, originally scheduled for Cornerstone Commons, will be at First Presbyterian Church, 1101 E. Ash St., on Friday for families and others to come out and celebrate early childhood education.
In addition to the 40-foot-long game board, there will be crafts, hula hoops, bubbles and more from 10 a.m. to noon. as organizers seek to highlight the importance of investing in a child's education, care and health care in the early formative years of their life.
Families also will be invited to write notes about why they think investing in North Carolina's children matters, as well as paint designs on baby clothing about why they think early child development is important.
"What we want people to realize is that you don't get do-overs," said Felicia Wilems, MomsRising NC member.
The mission for the event is to get people to realize that while times in North Carolina have been tough in the last few years, investing in children's welfare and early education will help our state's economy, said Beth Messersmith, NC Campaign Director for MomsRising.
The event is being put on by MomsRising, The First 2000 Days Campaign and Smart Start of Wayne County.
MomsRising is a grassroots organization working to highlight the importance of child care and strong stable families. The group advocates paid family leave, flexible work options, affordable childcare and an end to hiring and wage discrimination.
"Investing in our children is essential not only to bettering their futures, it is the key to our state's future," said Ms. Messersmith. "Chutes and Ladders is a fun way to remind our communities of the difference these programs make."
The First 2000 Days Campaign highlights the importance to the development of a child in their first few years before entering kindergarten.
"This is the time our children are at their most impressionable state," said Ms. Wilems.