Community Connections

The Importance of Connecting with Community

As someone raising a young child, community is incredibly important. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and isolated, especially without a support system. Being part of a community of parents, grandparents, foster parents or other caregivers can provide you with support, advice, and a sense of belonging.

Research shows that parents with stable and high-quality support networks tend to have a positive parental mood and are more responsive to their children. They also see greater satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment as parents and lower levels of anger, anxiety, and depression. On the other hand, being socially isolated and lonely can make it difficult for parents to provide consistent, nurturing, and responsive care for their children. It can also increase the risk of disengaged parenting, maternal depression, and child maltreatment (Center for the Study for Social Policy, Strengthening Families: Social Connections).

Connecting with others in Southington

A goal of the ECCS is to help foster a sense of community for the families of young children in Southington. If you want to connect with families of children born in the same year as your children or you are a grandparent raising your grandchildren, check out our Facebook Communities. There is a group called ECCS’s Southington Families with Babies Born in 20XX for each year from 2018 to 2024.

The ECCS also runs the Southington Childcare Providers and Early Childhood Educators Facebook group.

There are several Facebook groups run by parents, search for variations of Southington Moms, Misfit Moms or see the Southington CT Special Needs Families group.

Articles about the benefits of community

Community Is the Most Important Self-Care Tip for Moms
It Takes A Village To Raise A Parent
The Importance of Community Support in Raising Children
It Takes a Village: The Importance of a Support System for New Parents