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Lexington proclaims Week of the Young Child; Smart Start director warns of local childcare crisis
Summary
The City of Lexington proclaimed the Week of the Young Child for April 2025. Mary Dron, director of Smart Start of Davidson County, told council the county faces a childcare shortage and invited the public to a family fest and kindergarten-readiness activities.
Mayor Jason Hayes presented a proclamation declaring the week of April 2025 as the Week of the Young Child and urged recognition of early-childhood educators and childcare access in Lexington.
Mary Dron, identified by the council as director of Smart Start of Davidson County, told the council "the child care industry in our county, state and nationwide is in crisis." Dron said early-childhood educators are leaving the field for higher-paying jobs and that many families lack affordable, available childcare, which limits parents' ability to work.
Dron invited the public and council to a Smart Start family fest for young children and early educators at the Lexington Parks and Recreation West Campus. She said the event will include kindergarten-readiness kits for rising kindergartners and the unveiling of a sensory walk designed to support cognitive development. The event will be held in April 2025 with program hours from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; the proclamation and speaker did not specify the exact calendar date.
The proclamation text emphasized the societal importance of early childhood education, called for recognition and improved compensation for early-childhood educators, and urged support for affordable childcare spaces in the community.
Council thanked Smart Start for the presentation and recognized the role of early educators in the local economy and workforce development.
