The daylight is getting longer, the days are getting warmer, and it is time to get outside and think about summer. The ECCS Resource Directory has information about sports programs, playgrounds and other outdoor spaces, and summer programs for kids.
As a safety reminder, children under the age of 16 must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter or skateboard, or roller skates or in-line skates. The ECCS website also has bike safety information you can review with your children.
Thank you to everyone who was able to participate in our fundraiser at Puerto Vallarta on Tuesday, March 5th.
Kindergarten registration is underway! Details about the kindergarten registration process and these upcoming kindergarten activities are on the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington's website.
The ECCS and Southington Public Schools are also hosting a Kindergarten Readiness Workshop on Thursday, March 28th at 6 pm at DePaolo Middle School. This is for the parents/guardians of children entering kindergarten in the next two school years. 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 2024 or 2025. Register in advance for this free workshop.
Southington Public Schools will host the final screening session for families seeking a waiver for any child who wishes to enter Kindergarten this fall and will NOT be five years of age by September 1, 2024. This final screening session is only for families NOT screened earlier this year. Per state law, students five years of age by September 1, 2024, are automatically eligible and, therefore, do not need a waiver or screener administered.
The district has only reserved enough slots for 4-year-olds seeking a waiver; please do not sign up if your child meets the eligibility criteria above.
The last screening session will occur on Saturday, May 11th from 9:00am -12:00pm at the Southington Calendar House-Senior Ctr. at 388 Pleasant Street. *(Directly across the street from DePaolo Middle School)
They use SignUp to organize the screener appointments. The time to administer an assessment ranges between 20 and 40 minutes.
Click this link to see the SignUp: https://signup.com/go/LCuFeNo. You will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.
Review the options listed and choose the spot that works best for your family.
Note: SignUp does not share your email address with anyone.
If you have any questions, please contact the SPS central office at 860-628-3204.
According to the National Poison Data System (NPDS), in 2022, nearly 31% of calls to Poison Control from Connecticut were for children age 5 and younger. Children are naturally curious and tend to explore their surroundings by putting objects in their mouths. As a result, they are at high risk of accidental poisoning.
To prevent accidental poisoning, it's important to keep all medications (including THC products and vitamins), alcohol, cleaning products, and chemicals out of reach and out of sight of children. Store them in a locked cabinet, high up where children can't reach them. Keep products in their original containers so they can be easily identified. Never refer to medicine as "candy" or anything else appealing to children, as this could encourage them to try to ingest it. Additionally, it's important to properly dispose of any unused or expired medications. Do not flush them down the toilet or throw them in the trash, as this can contaminate the water supply or pose a risk to animals that may ingest them. Learn about the proper disposal of medications and household hazardous waste collection. There is a medicine drop-box in the lobby of the Southington Police Department, STEPS is tracking information about how much has been collected and why.
If you suspect that your child has ingested something poisonous, remain calm and contact the Poison Control Center using the webPOISONCONTROL online tool or calling 1-800-222-1222. Do not induce vomiting unless instructed to do so by a medical professional. If your child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures due to poison contact or ingestion, call 911 immediately.
Learn more about poison prevention:
Poison Prevention & Treatment Tips for Parents
Nutrition is crucial for children's growth and development. It's important to offer them a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and dairy. Encourage them to drink plenty of water and limit sugary drinks. Avoid highly processed and sugary foods. By teaching children healthy eating habits and providing them with nutritious options, you can help them maintain a healthy weight and reduce certain health risks later in life.
This year's National Nutrition Month® campaign, Beyond the Table, which addresses the farm-to-fork aspect of nutrition. Southington is fortunate to have multiple local farms and a summer farmers' market, which you can find information about at https://guide.ctnofa.org/g/southington-ct.
If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, go to https://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/food-and-financial-assistance/.
Learn more about nutrition:
Did you see our ad in the latest issue of the Southington Chamber News?
You can learn more about developmental screening with the Sparkler Mobile App, Developmental Milestones and Development Concerns on our website.
Join the ECCS at any of these events next month.
ECCS Office Hours at Southington Public Library
Friday, April 5, from 9:30 am to noon
Monday, April 15, from 9:00 am to 11:30
Stop by the Southington Public Library and see the ECCS Executive Director, Joanne Kelleher. She can answer your questions about summer camps, kindergarten registration, raising children here in town or help you get set up in the Sparkler mobile app.
Look for the ECCS table near the Children’s Department.
Save the dates!
The ECCS is planning to be at these family-friendly events. Details will be announced by the sponsoring organizations later in the spring.
- Family Fun Day at The Southington Drive-in– May 4, 11 am to 3 pm, rain date May 11
- Baby Prom at The Southington Public Library – May 11, 10 am to 12 pm
- Touch a Truck at The Southington Drive-in – May 18, 10 am to 2 pm, rain date May 19
- Southington Pride at Camp Sloper – May 18, 2 pm to 5 pm
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Copyright © 2024 Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, all rights reserved.
Our mailing address:
Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington
PO Box 210
Southington, CT 06489-0210