Month of the Young Child

To the editor:

April celebrates the Month of the Young Child! Let’s invest, prioritize and expand access to quality early childhood education (ECE) and care in Leelanau County. As a retired early elementary teacher, I can attest that children who have participated in quality ECE enter the K-12 system more prepared to learn and more prepared socially and emotionally to face new challenges. Investing in our community’s youngest citizens on the front end with ECE leads to community savings on the back end by reducing remedial services and costly interventions later in life. Let’s celebrate the Month of the Young Child by supporting quality ECE and care throughout our Leelanau Community.

Rita Wessels Board President Leelanau Children’s Center