More than 90% of poison accidents happen in the home, but many poison risks are hidden in plain sight. 🏡 Learn how to identify poison risks in your home and take simple steps to keep your family safe and healthy at PoisonHelp.HRSA.gov or call the #PoisonHelpline at 1-800-222-1222.

4 Month Social and Emotional Milestones 😀 Smiles spontaneously, especially at people 😢 Likes to play with people & might cry when playing stops 🤪 Copies some movements & facial expressions Are you concerned about your child's development? Go to https://loom.ly/Y85KNYQ

February is Children's Dental Health Month! 🦷 Good oral health starts early, find a list of local dentists at https://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/resourcecat/dentists/

Teaching children to soothe themselves by going to a ‘cozy area’ can help them feel comforted & better able to cope. They may benefit from an area to be by themselves while they adjust to events or overly noisy activities. Read more Tips for Tots at eccpct.com/Resources

How many babies were born to Southington families in 2025? Only 364. That is a decrease of 52 from last year and the lowest it has been since 2017. Here is the updated chart from the ECCS Community Data. https://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/strategies/community-data

How many babies were born to Southington families in 2025? Take your guess and we will share the answer tomorrow. Here is the chart for the last several years from the ECCS Community Data. What do you think happened in 2025? https://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/strategies/community-data/

Feeling overwhelmed? Call the Talk It Out line at 1-833-258-5011 to talk to trained professionals who will listen and speak with you about your concerns or go to https://loom.ly/H1ewfzY for even more resources. #TalkItOut For other available mental health resources, go to https://loom.ly/g5GvC3U

Today is Rosa Parks Day! Also known as Transit Equity Day, today we remember Rosa Parks for her role in the civil rights movement and the struggles of those who faced racial discrimination and fought for their rights. Learn more at https://loom.ly/cTgeBzs

What are Developmental Milestones? Developmental milestones are things most children (75% or more) can do by a certain age. Learn more about development at https://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/developmental-milestones/

Black History Month is an important time to recognize and celebrate the many accomplishments, contributions, and stories of African Americans throughout history. Learn more about Black History Month at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/black-history-month

Starting Feb 2nd, vote for ECCS in the Community Awards Program & Ion Bank Foundation will donate $25 for every vote. Our work would not be possible without you ❤️ Every vote counts! If you are an Ion Bank customer, please visit https://cap.ionbank.com/CAP/Vote.aspx?ID=457 to vote starting 2/2/26.

2 Month Communication Milestones 🗣️ Coos, makes gurgling sounds 👂 Turns head toward sounds Download the Sparkler app to understand and track how your child is developing and to celebrate milestones 🌈 Learn more about Sparkler at http://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/sparkler/

Infants & young children exposed to DV can feel stress & insecurity. The primary need is for stability & security in day-to-day life with their primary caregivers. They may function in a state of “high alert,” unable to discern real vs perceived danger. Read more at https://www.eccpct.com/Resources/

988 is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org. 988 connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help. For other available mental health resources go to http://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/mental-health/

Today is International Lego Day! Depending on the age of your child, Legos can be great for learning fine motor skills, fostering imagination, creativity, and more. We would love to see your children's Lego creations in the comments!

Mobile Crisis Intervention Services serves children experiencing a mental health crisis. Trained professionals respond immediately, face-to-face or by phone, to help manage the child’s behavioral or emotional crisis. Learn more about this & other resources at https://loom.ly/iYxaqyw

Kindergarten Registration details have been announced! And here is the 2026 flyer! Save the date for the Kindergarten Registration Info Session Monday, 3/9/2026. Pre-registration starts at 5:30 pm at the DePaolo M.S. Auditorium. Learn more about Kindergarten Registration at https://loom.ly/weQFIQo

2 Month Physical Milestones 👶 Can hold head up and begins to push up when lying on tummy 💪 Makes smoother movements with arms and legs Check out the rest of our milestone charts at http://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/developmental-milestones/

Save the date! 🗓️ We are putting together a class about Pregnancy and Postpartum Mental Health that will be held on February 26th. Once the details and registration link are finalized, the information will be posted on our socials and at https://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/events/

Many people think poinsettias and Christmas cacti are poisonous. They aren't. But here are some real dangers to watch out for in winter ☃️ Check out the HRSA Seasonal Tips at PoisonHelp.HRSA.gov or call the #PoisonHelpline at 1-800-222-1222 to talk to an expert.

Winter is a really fun time of year. Snow days are great for snowball fights, building snowmen, and constructing igloos. ❄️ But while you're out having fun, you have to know how to be safe. https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/winter-safety.html

Developing Healthy Habits With Less Sugar 🥣 Young children have small tummies, but big nutritional needs! Making sure meals & snacks include foods & drinks that are lower in added sugars can help children learn to love a variety of flavors. Read more Nibbles for Health at https://loom.ly/vkxkUkk

You can help your child expand their emotional vocabulary by teaching them words for different feelings. Once they know & understand these words you can help them to label their own feelings & the feelings of others. Read more at https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/Implementation/family.html

Join us tomorrow at 9am-12pm for Library Office Hours 🍎 Stop by the Children's Department in the Southington Library & see the ECCS Executive Director. She can answer your questions about raising children here in town. Upcoming ECCS events can be found at https://loom.ly/uhIlYg8

Today is National Hugging Day! There are so many benefits to hugging your children, but this is also a great opportunity to teach your children about consent. https://www.parentingforbrain.com/children-hugging/

The UConn Health Parent Support & Education Clinic in West Hartford is offering a FREE parenting group on Thursday evenings for those wanting to learn how to help children manage their emotions. To register and find out more call or text Kim McCarthy, LCSW, at 860-351-7048.

ECCS Parent Ambassador Jessica Springer-Cap will be teaching Foundations of Early Childhood Education at Bristol Works over 5 sessions starting Wednesday, January 28th. Register for this class at https://bristolworksct.org/register/

The Child & Family Development Program at UConn Health Southington offers free parenting groups on Wednesday evenings: • Strategies for Managing Children’s Behavior • Drop-in Consultation at Southington Public Library Learn more at h.uconn.edu/parenting-support

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day 🤎 Today, we remember King's impact on civil rights in America and reflect on the work that still needs to be done. Learn more about MLK Jr. at https://loom.ly/FyYKXkk

If you are concerned about an abusive situation, reach out to CT Safe Connect at (888) 774-2900, email [email protected] or chat at https://ctsafeconnect.com/. For emergency abuse or DV concerns, call or text 911.

Skiing is a great way for kids and teens to have fun and get exercise during cold winter months ⛷ If you are planning to hit the slopes, make sure that you and your family are keeping safe and warm with these tips https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/safety-skiing.html

2 Month Cognitive Milestones 🧐 Pays attention to faces 👀 Begins to follow things with eyes & recognize people at a distance 😫 Begins to act bored if activity doesn’t change Check out the rest of our milestone charts at http://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/developmental-milestones/

Infants and young children need support to cope with traumatic events. Adults should prioritize restoring safety & nurturing relationships to help children resume healthy development & secure attachments. Read more Tips for Tots at https://www.eccpct.com/Resources

Did you miss last year's community read of the Anxious Generation? Retired SHS teacher Bob Brown will discuss the book along with other recent studies at the Southington Library tomorrow, 1/15 @ 5pm. You can find the materials from our Community Read at https://loom.ly/UKLGuyY

2025 was a busy year for the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington 🎆 We have accomplished a lot this year, from events and workshops to advocacy and a new office space! Check out some of the highlights from this year and watch the extended 2025 Recap video, go to https://youtu.be/exOHpkdTlA0

Join us tomorrow for Office Hours 🗓️ Stop by our office space, on January 14th, 11 am-1 pm. The ECCS Executive Director, Joanne Kelleher, can answer your questions about raising children here in town. Find more office hour dates and events at http://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/events

January is Slavery & Human Trafficking Awareness Month. This guide provides Internet safety info about the various apps that children may use. This is from CTHART, which was created to focus on & reduce Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST). Learn more at https://portal.ct.gov/DCF/HART/Home#Internet

Snowboarding is a great way for kids and teens to have fun and get exercise during cold winter months. 🏂 It's fairly easy to learn, but injuries do happen. Keep safe and have fun with these snowboard safety tips https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/safety-snowboarding.html

KidsMentalHealthInfo.com by the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut, Inc. provides information and resources plus guidance in determining if your child needs help and how to find it. Learn more about this and more at https://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/mental-health

2 Month Social and Emotional Milestones 😄 Begins to smile at people 👶 Can briefly calm themselves 👨‍👩‍👧 Tries to look at parents If you have concerns about your child's development and are looking for resources go to https://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/developmental-milestones/

Visual tools such as calendars, pictures and charts can help children understand what is expected of them, reducing challenging behavior. Visual schedules keep the focus on the task at hand and can avoid negotiation about tasks. Read more at challengingbehavior.org/implementation/family-engagement

Join us next week for Office Hours 🗓️ Stop by our office space, on January 14th, 11 am-1 pm. The ECCS Executive Director, Joanne Kelleher, can answer your questions about raising children here in town. Find more office hour dates and events at http://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/events

January is National Bath Safety Month 🛁 It is very easy for babies to overheat or to chill, so the ideal bath temperature is about 95°F. It is also recommended to only fill the tub with 2-3 inches of water. https://loom.ly/Bl7_a_Y

There may not be a lot of snow on the ground right now, but you can never be too prepared for the snowy days ahead ⛄ Have fun in the snow and stay safe! Learn more about keeping little ones safe at https://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/weather-safety/

World Braille Day was created in 2019 by the UN General Assembly & serves as the commencement event for Braille Literacy Month, an event that aims to raise awareness about the importance of Braille & Braille literacy. Learn more about Braille at https://www.perkins.org/celebrating-world-braille-day/

Children can often feel uncertain & frightened when moving to a new placement. Planning ahead can ease the transition phase & greatly reduce stress & anxiety. They will need time & support to adjust to the new environment & will need support, comfort & reassurance. Read more at eccpct.com/Resources

Happy New Year 🎆 We wish everyone a happy and healthy 2026! 🥂

Happy New Year's Eve! 🎆 Here are some ideas for New Year's activities that the whole family can enjoy! https://pathways.org/new-activities-celebrate-new-year

Warm, gentle interactions & a relaxed atmosphere help infants & toddlers feel safe & secure. Securely attached children exhibit trust, resiliency, a sense of empowerment, confidence, & are more connected to others. Read more at eccpct.com/Resources

Recently, ECCS Exec Dir Joanne Kelleher visited the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain to share our mission & how the CFGNB’s Capacity Building Workshops have provided relevant, community-focused tools that strengthen organizations. Watch here https://vimeo.com/1139416544