Events & Workshops
February 25, 2025One Book, One Community: The Anxious Generation Session 1
March 4, 2025ECCS Library Office Hours
March 11, 2025Kindergarten Information Session 2025
March 12, 2025One Book, One Community: The Anxious Generation Session 2
March 18, 2025ECCS Board Meeting – March 2025
March 24, 2025One Book, One Community: The Anxious Generation Session 3
March 25, 2025Southington Kindergarten Readiness Workshop 2025
May 3, 2025Family Fun Day 2025
May 17, 2025Touch A Truck 2025
May 18, 2025First Congregational Church of Southington’s WISE Community Block Party
May 20, 2025ECCS Board Meeting – May 2025
May 31, 2025Youth and Family PRIDE Festival 2025
One Book, One Community: The Anxious Generation Session 1
The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, Southington Public Library and Southington Public School district are partnering on a 3-night book discussion of The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.
Session 1: Tuesday, February 25 at 6:30 pm
The Decline of Play and the Rise of Anxiety, Introduction-Chapter 4
The Decline of Play and the Rise of Anxiety, Introduction-Chapter 4
Key Themes:
– The importance of independent play and real-world socialization
– Shifts in parenting styles (overprotection, fear, and structured lives)
– Early warning signs of the mental health crisis
– The importance of independent play and real-world socialization
– Shifts in parenting styles (overprotection, fear, and structured lives)
– Early warning signs of the mental health crisis
You can borrow a copy of The Anxious Generation – hardcover or digital- from the Southington Public Library.
Register for one or all 3 sessions via the Southington Public Library at https://southington-ct.whofi.com/calendar/event/311098.
“A must-read for all parents: the generation-defining investigation into the collapse of youth mental health in the era of smartphones, social media, and big tech—and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood.”
This project is part of the ECCS’s Southington Community Well-Being Grant Initiative through the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust at the Main Street Community Foundation.
ECCS Library Office Hours
Stop by the Southington Public Library and see the ECCS Executive Director, Joanne Kelleher. She can answer your questions about raising children here in town. Look for the ECCS table in the Children’s Department.
You can also bring your child for Tiny Tots storytime or Little Listeners storytime (both require registration).
Kindergarten Information Session 2025
The Southington Public School System is holding a Kindergarten Information Session on Tuesday, March 11th, in person at DePaolo Middle School Auditorium for all parents/guardians who have children entering kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year. If there is no school that day or early dismissal, then the snow date is 3/18/24.
Parents/guardians from across Southington, Plantsville, Marion, and Milldale, regardless of which elementary school their students will attend, are invited to this in-person session to hear about kindergarten and how registration works.
Registration starts at 5:30 pm, and the presentation will begin at 6 pm. There is no pre-registration required.
The ECCS will have an information table.
Learn more about kindergarten and preparing for school at https://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/preparing-for-school/
One Book, One Community: The Anxious Generation Session 2
The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, Southington Public Library and Southington Public School district are partnering on a 3-night book discussion of The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.
Session 2: Wednesday, March 12 at 6:30 pm
Screens, Social Media, and Student Mental Health, Chapters 5-9
Screens, Social Media, and Student Mental Health, Chapters 5-9
Key Themes:
– The shift from real-world to online interactions
– The impact of social media on self-esteem and mental health
– The role of schools and communities in regulating screen time
– The shift from real-world to online interactions
– The impact of social media on self-esteem and mental health
– The role of schools and communities in regulating screen time
You can borrow a copy of The Anxious Generation – hardcover or digital- from the Southington Public Library.
Register for one or all 3 sessions via the Southington Public Library at https://southington-ct.whofi.com/calendar/event/311098.
“A must-read for all parents: the generation-defining investigation into the collapse of youth mental health in the era of smartphones, social media, and big tech—and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood.”
This project is part of the ECCS’s Southington Community Well-Being Grant Initiative through the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust at the Main Street Community Foundation.
ECCS Board Meeting – March 2025
Are you interested in supporting the ECCS? Join us for our next Board meeting.
Note this is not an educational workshop and the focus will be on planning and current issues in the area of early childhood.
Please let Joanne know if you plan to attend at southingtonearlychildhood@gmail.com so you can get the location, agenda and materials in advance.
One Book, One Community: The Anxious Generation Session 3
The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, Southington Public Library and Southington Public School district are partnering on a 3-night book discussion of The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.
Session 3: Wednesday, March 24 at 6:30 pm
Building a Healthier Generation-What Can We Do?, Chapter 10-Conclusion
Building a Healthier Generation-What Can We Do?, Chapter 10-Conclusion
Key Themes:
– Setting limits on social media and smartphones
– Reintroducing independence, real-world connection, and resilience-building
– Policy and practice recommendations for schools and parents
– Setting limits on social media and smartphones
– Reintroducing independence, real-world connection, and resilience-building
– Policy and practice recommendations for schools and parents
You can borrow a copy of The Anxious Generation – hardcover or digital- from the Southington Public Library.
Register for one or all 3 sessions via the Southington Public Library at https://southington-ct.whofi.com/calendar/event/311098.
“A must-read for all parents: the generation-defining investigation into the collapse of youth mental health in the era of smartphones, social media, and big tech—and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood.”
This project is part of the ECCS’s Southington Community Well-Being Grant Initiative through the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust at the Main Street Community Foundation.
Southington Kindergarten Readiness Workshop 2025
The Southington Public Schools and Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington invite parents and caregivers of 3 -5-year-olds to this free workshop.
Register to attend and then come learn about what children should know about literacy, numeracy and social-emotional learning skills to be prepared for entering kindergarten in the Southington Public Schools in the Fall of 2025 or 2026.
TIME: Check-in at 6:15 pm — Presentation from 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Joseph A. DePaolo Middle School’s Media Center at 385 Pleasant Street, Southington, CT.
Speakers
• Literacy Readiness – Stephanie Lawlor, District Curriculum Coordinator, ELA Prek-8, Social Studies Prek-5
• Numeracy Readiness – Alicia Naleway, District Curriculum Coordinator for Math K-8 and Science K-5
• Social-Emotional Learning/STEPS Asset Building Classrooms- Megan Albanese, Youth Prevention Coordinator & Christina McKirryher, STEPS Asset Building Classrooms Coordinator
This free workshop is presented by: The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington and Southington Public Schools with support from The Stocker Foundation.
Family Fun Day 2025
More information as the event nears.
The ECCS will have a table at this event, come by and say ‘Hi’!
Rain Date: Sunday, May 11th
Baby Prom
More information as the event nears.
The ECCS will have a table at this event, come by and say ‘Hi’!
Touch A Truck 2025
More information as the event nears.
The ECCS will have a table at this event, come by and say ‘Hi’!
Rain Date: Sunday, May 18th
First Congregational Church of Southington’s WISE Community Block Party
More information as the event nears.
The ECCS will have a table at this event.
ECCS Board Meeting – May 2025
Are you interested in supporting the ECCS? Join us for our next Board meeting.
Note this is not an educational workshop and the focus will be on planning and current issues in the area of early childhood.
Please let Joanne know if you plan to attend at southingtonearlychildhood@gmail.com so you can get the location, agenda and materials in advance.
Youth and Family PRIDE Festival 2025
More details as the event draws closer.
The ECCS will have a table at this event. Stop by if you have any questions or just say “Hi!”
Learn more about Southington PRIDE and their upcoming events here.
Southington Library Comic Con
Southington Summer 2025 Bookmobile Tour
Join us Friday, August 22rd, at any of our three stops so your child can pick out a FREE book from the Read to Grow Bookmobile!
Stop #1
Margaret Griffin Center
Lower parking lot off of Eden Ave behind Derynoski Elementary
Time: 10 to 11 am
Stop #2
Bread for Life’s Summer Lunch Program
Summer Brook Apartments
Building 32A-35 Parking Lot
Time: 12 to 1 pm
Stop #3
Southington Farmers Market
Southington Town Green
Time: 3 to 5 pm
