Events & Workshops
April 21, 2026ECCS Board Meeting – April 2026
April 28, 2026Southington Early Childhood Community Table
May 4, 2026ECCS at the Library
May 16, 2026Touch a Truck 2026
May 17, 2026W.I.S.E. Mental Health Community Block Party
May 19, 2026ECCS Board Meeting – May 2026
May 28, 2026State of Early Childhood in Southington Presentation
June 11, 2026ECCS at the Library
ECCS Board Meeting – April 2026
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.
Southington Early Childhood Community Table
The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington is hosting a Local Governance Partner Community Table meeting.
The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington has been selected by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood to be the Local Governance Partner for our community.
We are charged with convening a Community Table, “a collaborative space that serves as a neutral, inclusive forum where diverse organizations, parents, and stakeholders come together to engage in open dialogue, share insights, and work towards collective community goals” around the needs of the families and caregivers of young children in our town.
If you are interested in attending, please send us an email at southingtonearlychildhood@gmail.com
ECCS at the Library
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.
Two-Gether Tales *Registration Required* is at 10:30.
Touch a Truck 2026
The ECCS will have a table at this event, come by and say ‘Hi’!
Rain Date: Sunday, May 17th
NEW – Sensory Friendly Quiet Hour 10 – 11 am
- Climb on/into Construction, Military, Emergency & Other Vehicles
- Face Painting & Glitter Tattoos
- Refreshments
- And Much More!
The admission fee is $4.00 per child; accompanying adults are free.
The 22nd annual Touch-a-Truck event is proudly co-sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 72 and the Town of Southington Recreation Department.
W.I.S.E. Mental Health Community Block Party
Raindate, Sunday, May 31.
More information as the event nears.
The ECCS will have a table at this event.
ECCS Board Meeting – May 2026
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.
ECCS Office Hours
Stop by the ECCS Office and see the Executive Director, Joanne Kelleher. She can answer your questions about raising children here in town.
Children are welcome.
Use the parking lot in the back of the building and enter via the door under the giant “35”. The office is on the third floor. If you need the elevator, then call when you arrive for directions. 860- 385-1665.
State of Early Childhood in Southington Presentation
The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington (ECCS) will host a breakfast and presentation on “Early Childhood in Southington”.
The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington (ECCS) will host a presentation on “Early Childhood in Southington” on Thursday morning, May 28, 2026 at the Southington Community Cultural Arts Center. Doors will open for networking at 7:30 am, breakfast will be served by 7:45 am. The program and discussion will run from 8 to 9:30 am.
As part of the presentation, we will show the results of the Local Needs Assessment we are conducting and will gather your feedback.
All organizations and agencies that support children and families in town, along with parents/guardians, are invited. We hope you can join us and provide your insights into these changes and issues facing young children in town.
Please indicate your food/drink choices so we can coordinate with the caterer.
This free event is funded through our work as a Local Governance Partner via a contract from Shine Early Learning and the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood.
ECCS Office Hours
Stop by the ECCS Office and see the Executive Director, Joanne Kelleher. She can answer your questions about raising children here in town.
Children are welcome.
Use the parking lot in the back of the building and enter via the door under the giant “35”. The office is on the third floor. If you need the elevator, then call when you arrive for directions. 860- 385-1665.
ECCS at the Library
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.
Play Pals, a drop-in play group for children ages 0 – 4, and their favorite adults, will be held from 9:30 to 12.
Family Fun Day 2026
The ECCS will have a table at this event, stop by and say ‘Hi’!
- Face Painting & Glitter Tattoos, Balloon Artists
- Arts & Crafts, Horse Drawn Hay Rides, Princesses & Costumed Characters
- DJ & Bubble Truck, Photo Booth, Fire Truck, Dunk Tank
- Carnival Games, Food Truck, Rita’s Lemon Ice
- Games, Raffles, Prizes & more!
Proceeds benefit Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Oncology Dept.
Advance Tickets available for $5 per person ages 2+. Please bring cash to purchase advance tickets at
- The Little Red Store – Marion Ave. Plantsville
- Lewis Farms – 384 Belleview Ave. Southington
- Pat’s Main Street Ice Cream – Southington
- South Side Meat Market – 145 West St. Bristol
Rain Date: Sunday, June 14th
Southington Summer 2026 Bookmobile Tour
Join us Friday, August 28th, so your child can pick out a FREE book from the Read to Grow Bookmobile!
Time and Locations TBD
