News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NR-03-31-26-play
March 31, 2026

COC to Host Children's Play Day on April 18

On Saturday, April 18, the College of the Canyons Department of Early Childhood Education (ECE) will host its annual Children’s Play Day in celebration of the nationally recognized Week of the Young Child, sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

In partnership with the International Play Association (IPA), the event brings the community together for a day of high-quality, developmentally engaging play experiences for children from infancy through school age.

Children’s Play Day also offers families the chance to learn about the many resources available at the college and in the surrounding community.

“We are thrilled to welcome families back for this fun, family-friendly event,” said Wendy Ruiz, event coordinator and ECE faculty member. “This free event features activities that children and families can enjoy together, including science, sensory, art, music, and more.”

The event is expected to host approximately 30 local non-profit organizations dedicated to child and family services. Food vendors will also be on site.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket and relax under the shade while enjoying the day’s lineup of free activities. Donations will be accepted to benefit the college’s Basic Needs Center (BaNC), and donors will receive a raffle ticket for contributing items such as snack packs, pull-top canned vegetables or soups, cereal, and travel-sized bath or body care products.

Children’s Play Day will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Honor Grove on the College of the Canyons Valencia campus. Admission is free and open to the public, and parking in lots 6 and 7 off Rockwell Canyon Road (near the campus tennis courts) will also be complimentary for the event.

The NAEYC is a professional organization dedicated to promoting high-quality early learning by connecting research, practice, and policy.

Founded in 1961, IPA is an international NGO that advocates for children’s right to play as a fundamental human right and provides a platform for collaboration across disciplines and sectors.

For more information about Children’s Play Day at College of the Canyons, contact Wendy Ruiz at (661) 644-2752 or wendy.ruiz@canyons.edu.