Celebrating Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a federal holiday that recognizes the freedom of formerly enslaved Black people. The commemoration traditionally takes place on June 19 to commemorate the day in 1865 when Major Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in the state of Texas to
June is Pride Month!
This June marks the 55th anniversary of the first LGBTQ+ Pride march held in the United States. LGBTQ+ Pride Month, also known simply as Pride Month, is held each June, an observation of queer culture through celebration and protest. Countless communities
Happy Mother’s Day!
Remember how much your mom loved those handmade cards you scribbled for her as a child? This year, you can give her something equally heartfelt: the gift of a poem. We’ve assembled a collection of poems for and by mothers
Early Childhood Provider Appreciation Day!
Provider Appreciation Day is an annual celebration on the Friday before Mother’s Day that recognizes the work of child care providers, teachers and other educators of young children. Established by NAFCC in 1995 as a way to thank family child
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week May 5th through May 9th!
"Each year during Teacher Appreciation Week, we pause to reflect on the incredible educators all over the country who are shaping children’s futures. NAEYC works year-round to advocate for, support, and elevate early childhood professionals. But this week offers a
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Join NAMI’s Mental Health Awareness Month Campaign This May This May, take action, raise your voice, and help change the conversation around mental health! Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a driving force in addressing the challenges faced by
It’s Week of the Young Child! Family Friday!
On Family Friday, celebrate your family and your child’s role in the family. Ask your child what they think makes your family special- is it how you celebrate birthdays and holidays, the way you laugh together, or how you
It’s Week of the Young Child! Artsy Thursday!
Artsy Thursday is an opportunity to keep the creative juices from Work Together Wednesday flowing. Enjoy the process of making art together without needing to make the perfect project. Set up whatever kid-friendly art materials you have- colored paper, stickers,
It’s the Week of the Young Child! Work Together Wednesday!
As adults, we often don’t have a lot of time for creativity. Our days are overscheduled and everything we do has a specific goal or outcome attached to mind. Work Together Wednesday is your chance to reconnect with play for
It’s Week of the Young Child! Tasty Tuesday!
We all need to eat everyday and thinking about food and mealtime can sometimes be quite the repetitive slog for parents of preschool aged children. Little kids can be both demanding and picky when it comes to meal time and
It’s Week of the Young Child! Music Monday!
The Week of the Young Child starts off with Music Monday! People of all ages love engaging with music. Making and experiencing music together is a great way to bond with your child. While there’s a successful industry of music
It’s the Week of the Young Child! Kick-off Saturday!!!
"The Week of the Young Child® is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world's largest early childhood education association, with nearly 60,000 members and a network of 51 Affiliates. The purpose of the
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
"Save the Children has been built on the fundamental belief that all children have the right to be protected from harm, abuse and exploitation. As a child rights and social justice organization promoting the education, health and protection of children,
April is Autism Awareness Month
For 20 years, Autism Speaks has stood alongside the autism community, igniting a global movement for understanding, acceptance, and lasting change. Together, they have fueled groundbreaking research, advanced critical advocacy, and opened doors to education, healthcare, and employment, creating a
Preparing for Interactions with ICE Agents in a Child Care Setting
The recent changes to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies have raised some questions and concerns in our communities. Some of these changes to the Department of Homeland Security policies may affect child care centers but it is
March is Women’s History Month
Did You Know? Women’s History Month started as Women’s History Week . . . Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women
The Collective’s February Workshop: Read to Grow
On Wednesday February 26, 2025 the Connecticut Children’s Collective welcomed Suzannah Holsenbeck, Executive Director, Kascia Williams, Program Director, and Pam Katynski, Book Mobile Manager from the organization Read to Grow, to their February professional development learning opportunity. Read to Grow is
January’s Professional Development: Somatic Embodiment and Mindfulness
The first Collective Workshop of 2025 took place on January 22, 2025. For our Collective Wisdom Series our guest was Elaine Gallas, LPC. a mental health therapist, trained in Embodied Holistic Healing and Somatic Embodiment and Psychotherapy. In this experiential
February 1st is National Freedom Day
Proclamation 2824—National Freedom Day February 1st is National Freedom Day, a time to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the resolution that became known as the 13th Amendment. Truman built on Lincoln’s civil rights efforts, commissioning the Committee on Civil Rights, being
February is Black History Month: Invisible Changemakers of Industry
As a citizen workforce, African Americans continue to chart new paths toward economic stability, personal growth, and racial uplift. From enslaved workers in the 19th century to agricultural, industrial, and professional workers in the 20th and 21st centuries, Black men
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month
January is also known as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. It is a key time for us all as individuals to educate ourselves about human trafficking and crucially to learn to spot the signs of trafficking. It is also a time
Childhood Conversations and Parenting Conversations RFPs are Here!!
We are so excited to be offering two days of learning and connecting this year at out Childhood Conversations Conference, which will be held on Friday May 2nd, and our Parenting Conversations Conference, which will be held on Saturday May
Happy New Year 2025!!!
New Year’s Reflections Looking back on the months gone by, As a new year starts and an old one ends, We contemplate what brought us joy, And we think of our loved ones and our friends. Recalling all the happy times, Remembering how they enriched our
Happy Holidays!!
Thank you to all those we collaborate with for all that you do to make our world a better place! May your hearts and bellies be full during the holiday season! With So Much Appreciation, Barbara and the Network Team!
December is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Awareness Month
Each year, millions of Americans are affected by this condition, which brings on significant mood changes in response to the changing of seasons. Typically SAD occurs during late fall and winter months, when there is less sunlight and colder weather. The
November’s Professional Development Opportunity: Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP)
On November 27, 2024, the Collective welcomed Grace Halpern, LCSW, ECCP Training & Professional Development Specialist to discuss the services available to providers throughout the state. If you missed this very informative workshop you can view the attached handouts as
November is Early Childhood Mental Health Awareness Month
What is Early Childhood Mental Health? While they sound similar, early childhood mental health and early childhood mental illness are two different things affecting children before their fifth birthday. Approximately 17% of children are diagnosed with a mental illness before their
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month
November is National Diabetes Month, a time when communities across the country seek to bring attention to diabetes. This year’s focus is on taking action to prevent diabetes health problems. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also