Events & Workshops

One Book, One Community: The Anxious Generation Session 2

Date: March 12, 2025

Start Time: 6:30 pm

Location:
Southington Public Library
Address:
255 Main St

 

End Time: 7:30 pm

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
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
You can borrow a copy of The Anxious Generation – hardcover or digital- from the Southington Public Library.
UPDATED LINK: Register for session #2 or 3 via the Southington Public Library at https://southington-ct.whofi.com/calendar/event/311099
“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.
Registration

ECCS Board Meeting – March 2025

Date: March 18, 2025

Start Time: 6:30 pm

Location:
TBD

 

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

Date: March 24, 2025

Start Time: 6:30 pm

Location:
Southington Public Library
Address:
255 Main Street

 

End Time: 7:30 pm

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
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
You can borrow a copy of The Anxious Generation – hardcover or digital- from the Southington Public Library.
Register for the second or third session via the Southington Public Library at https://southington-ct.whofi.com/calendar/event/311099.
“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.
Registration

Southington Kindergarten Readiness Workshop 2025

Date: March 25, 2025

Start Time: 6:30 pm

Location:
Joseph A. DePaolo Middle School Media Center
Address:
385 Pleasant Street

 

End Time: 8 pm

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.

Registration

ECCS Library Office Hours

Date: March 27, 2025

Start Time: 9 am

Location:
Southington Public Library
Address:
255 Main St

 

End Time: 12 pm

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.

ECCS Library Office Hours

Date: April 7, 2025

Start Time: 9 am

Location:
Southington Public Library
Address:
255 Main St

 

End Time: 12 pm

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.

Family Fun Day 2025

Date: May 3, 2025

Start Time: 10 am

 

End Time: 3 pm

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

Date: May 10, 2025

Start Time: 10:30 am

Location:
Southington Public Library

 

More information as the event nears.

The ECCS will have a table at this event, come by and say ‘Hi’!

Touch A Truck 2025

Date: May 17, 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

Date: May 18, 2025

Start Time: 1 pm

Location:
First Congregational Church of Southington
Address:
37 Main Street

 

End Time: 4 pm

More information as the event nears.

The ECCS will have a table at this event.

ECCS Board Meeting – May 2025

Date: May 20, 2025

Start Time: 6:30 pm

Location:
TBD

 

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

Date: May 31, 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

Date: June 7, 2025

Start Time: 11 am

Location:
Southington Drive-In
Address:
995 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike

 

End Time: 3 pm

Southington Summer 2025 Bookmobile Tour

Date: August 23, 2025

Start Time: 10 am

Location:
Southington

 

End Time: 5 pm

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