New Hamilton Mayor Jay Bluck welcomed students and the Education Minister Terry Lister to City Hall to celebrate the Week of the Young Child yesterday.

The Bermudian Association for the Education of Young Children spearheads the Week of the Child every year to bring attention to the need for quality pre-school education on the Island.

More than 100 students from Devonshire Pre-school, The Academy at Woodlands, Happy Moments Nursery School and Victor Scott Primary School joined the Minister.

Students sang songs and an international radio host and writer spoke of the need for better role models during the hour-long ceremony.

Mr. Lister said it was a priority that each child reached their physical, emotional and intellectual potential. ?This week calls attention to the need for quality early childhood education. Our future needs and deserves it.?

Visiting expert Bob Lancer (pictured) said it was important that adults realise their actions will be reflected in their child?s behaviour. Mr. Lancer, of Atlanta, hosts a popular weekly radio show geared towards answering parenting questions. He has also published a well received book ?Parenting with Love, Without Anger or Stress?.

?Every child?s life is impacted by the way every adult leads their life,? he said. ?If we abandon our spiritual roots we are leading our children down the wrong path.?

Mr. Lancer will be giving a number of talks this week to parents, teachers and children. For more information please call 232-1875 or 293-4172.