Children parade through downtown

Children from Stepping Stones Christian School, Mother’s Day Out, First Love Day Care, Lakey’s Day Care, and Nancy Smith Elementary School’s Head Start and Pre-K classes paraded up the sidewalks of downtown Albany last Friday morning, April 12, to conclude an annual week-long celebration.

Quite a few adults, including shop owners and downtown employees, waited along the sidewalks to hand out candy and other treats as the long line of children and their teachers passed by.

Local police chief Mike House helped control traffic while the “parade” crossed the street on either end of the downtown block.

The Week of the Young Child is designed to draw attention to the needs of young children, acknowledge the early childhood programs helping to meet those needs, and honor those who make a difference in children’s lives.

The annual event took place during the week of April 8-12, and local activities included discussions about good choices, a field day, favorite book show and tell, and the traditional downtown children’s sidewalk parade.