Each year on March 2, children across America celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss, one of the country's most read and adored children's book authors.

Children at the Wetzel Child Development Center joined in the festivities this year by participating in numerous activities with a Dr. Seuss theme throughout the week of his birthday.

A highlight of the week's activities was the decoration of each classroom door with a Dr. Seuss theme. Strong support for this project came from the parents, who assisted throughout the week with things like reading to the children and helping with the classroom decorations. Also reading to the children were staff members from the Child, Youth and Schools Services and the Wetzel CDC.

The door decorations were judged by Jason Kearney, Outreach Services director, and Jason Etchell, Child, Youth and Schools Services coordinator. When it was all over, every classroom received an award that reflected the children's creativity.

"It was a great staff morale builder as well as fun for the children and their families," said Christine Smith Goodnough, training and curriculum specialist.

Dr. Seuss is most known for books like "The Cat in The Hat," "Green Eggs and Ham" "Hop on Pop," "Horton Hears a Who" and many more children favorites.

The staff of the Wetzel CDC, together with volunteer parents, offered numerous learning experiences to the children throughout the week.

Children in the kindergarten preparedness group Strong Beginnings constructed the familiar red and white hats made famous by the Dr. Seuss book "The Cat in The Hat."

The book "Horton Hears a Who" was used to help with reading comprehension. Literacy development was also applied with a focus on phonological awareness for the "h" sound.

Creative development was emphasized as part-day preschoolers made self portraits to demonstrate one of the characters in the book "Hop on Pop."

Literacy and pre mathematics were explored with letter and number recognition while reading "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish."

Social development was the focus with the book "Are You My Mother." Children were able to participate in role modeling and nurturing experiences after reading the book in the dramatic play centers.

The children enjoyed some fun food experiences while reading "Green Eggs and Ham." Cognitive development/pre math and science concepts were learned through cooking. The children experienced measuring with fractions, number recognition, conversion of liquids to solids, changes in phenomenon, order and following directions.

When it was all over, the children went home and ate some green eggs and ham, counted their fish, put a hat on their cat and hopped on pop.

CDC celebrates Dr Seuss' birthday