City of Long Beach Hosts Sixth Annual Celebration of the Young Child

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach will host the sixth annual Celebration of the Young Child from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Downtown Long Beach. This free event provides hands-on activities and showcases vendors who provide services and resources for children up to 8 years old.

"Every year, Celebration of the Young Child brings us together to celebrate the joy, creativity and great potential of our young residents," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "Investing in children today builds a brighter, more vibrant future for our entire community."

The event will be co-located at Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway) and at the adjacent Lincoln Park. Free parking will be available in the Civic Center parking garage located at the corner of Broadway and Chestnut Avenue.

Late last year, the Early Childhood Education team conducted a community survey to gather insight into how this year's Celebration could best support child development for babies and young children. The survey, which informed this year's activities, found that families look forward to experiences that feature healthy food options, hands-on activities and on-site enrollment assistance for programs. Families also expressed a need for increased resources addressing developmental and sensory needs, as well as safe spaces for children to play during the event and family resting areas.

This year's event will feature a variety of performances, including interactive live musical dance by Kids Imagine Nation and a folklorica dance performance by students from Cesar Chavez Elementary School. Also featured at the event will be Mika Storey, pediatric speech therapist and author of "Nixon's Engine Words," who will read her book and give a presentation about speech and language development in a child's early years.

Additional activities include music and movement for toddlers and preschool-aged children, read-aloud story times, a sensory exploration area, and other educational hands-on activities.

Early intervention resources and screenings will also be provided free of charge to families with children who may benefit from them. Services will include:

• Ten- to 20-minute walk-in appointments for the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)-3, a widely used tool used to help parents identify areas of development in which their child may need more support, along with screening results and connection to on-site support resources.
• Ten- to 20-minute walk-in appointments for the articulation component of the Preschool Language Scale (PSL)-5, along with screening results and connection to on-site support resources.
• Pediatric eye health screenings, courtesy of the UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic, to help identify vision concerns and prevent future impairments. Eye screenings will also include vision education, resources and reading glasses, if needed. Space is limited, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early to sign up for a walk-in appointment.
• Vaccination clinics to provide children with their routine immunizations.

"We are thrilled to host Celebration of the Young Child, a wonderful event that honors our young children and supports their growth and well-being," said First District Councilmember Mary Zendejas. "We invite you to join us at Billie Jean King Main Library and Lincoln Park as we help to foster a solid foundation and better future for all."

Information booths from local and regional education centers, agencies and vendors who provide services to families and children up to age 8 will also be set up outside on the library terrace with educational handouts that promote healthy child development and resources for parents.

The Celebration is a collaboration between the Department of Health and Human Services' Early Childhood Strategic Initiatives program, the Long Beach Public Library and the Mayor's Fund for Education. To learn more about the Early Childhood Strategic Initiatives program, visit longbeach.gov/earlychildhood.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about the Long Beach Health Department is available at longbeach.gov/health and on Instagram, Facebook and X.

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