Alexandria’s DASH bus service will unveil a bus with colorful wraparound graphics next week to kick off April as the city’s Month of the Young Child.
At 10 a.m. Monday, April 6, Mayor Alyia Gaskins will be on hand at DASH headquarters (3000 Business Center Drive) to reveal the bus, which includes colorful wraparound graphics outside the bus. Through a partnership with local nonprofit Kids’ First Years, buses will display messaging on the five principles to help young children thrive. This is the second year that the city has devoted April toward promoting early childhood education and development with planned activities across the city.
“The best transit systems are built in partnership with the communities they serve, and that means showing up for families at every stage of life, especially from the very beginning,” DASH General Manager Josh Baker said. “Kids’ First Years has spent years ensuring Alexandria’s youngest children get the start they deserve, and we are proud to partner with them and help amplify their extraordinary work in every neighborhood we serve.”
According to Kids’ First Years, the five “simple-yet-powerful” principles for parents are:
- Maximize love and manage stress
- Talk, sing and point
- Count, group and compare
- Explore through movement and play
- Read and discuss stories
Michelle Smith Howard, CEO of Kids’ First Years, said that the collaboration with DASH reveals an important connection between public transportation and early childhood services.
“This citywide effort, supported by organizations across our collective, helps ensure our youngest children are set up for success in school and in life,” Howard said. “By sharing eye-catching messages about The Basics on buses traveling throughout Alexandria, we’re meeting families where they are and encouraging them to use everyday moments, such as on the bus, at home, and in their neighborhoods, to engage their children using The Basics principles.”
This month, Kids’ First Years is encouraging Alexandria families to follow these daily themese:
- Music Monday — When children sing, dance and listen to music, they develop their language and early literacy skills while being active and encouraging movement.
- Tasty Tuesday — Cooking together connects math with literacy skills, science and more.
Encourage healthy nutrition and fitness habits at home and in the classroom.- Work Together Wednesday — When children build together, they explore math and science concepts and develop their social and early literacy skills. Encourage their curiosity as they play.
- Artsy Thursday — Children develop creativity, social skills and fine motor skills with art projects where they can make choices and use their imaginations.
- Family Friday — Engaging and celebrating families is at the heart of supporting our youngest learners. Parents and family members play an important role as a young child’s first teachers.
On Wednesday, April 22, Kids’ First Years will host a special event with kid-focused activities as part of ACT for Alexandria’s Spring2ACTion day of giving. The event will be from 3-6 p.m. at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square at 2311 Mt Vernon Avenue.
Image via DASH/Facebook
