Spring is here, and that means it’s time for young children and their families to celebrate after a long winter dealing with the pandemic.

Missoula's annual Week of the Child offers families a chance to do that. The week-long event offers fun activities for families, training programs and events to recognize early childhood champions.

Events kick off this Saturday and continue through April 8.

In this Spotlight Montana, Healthy Start coordinator Anna Semple shares with us what's planned and talks about the importance of early childhood programs and services designed to meet the needs of young children and their families.

Semple also highlights some of the challenges young families are facing.

Event information can be found at www.healthystartmissoula.org/woyc and more details about the Bright By Text and LIFTS programs are available at www.healthystartmissoula.org.

Catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com.