Activities for ChildrenIn the recent ECCS Parent/Caregiver survey, we asked the question, "What have been the largest parenting challenges for your family in the past year?"
We were surprised that the number one answer was "Finding fun and social activities for my child." Tied for answer number three was "Finding activities that my child and I can do together." If you are looking for activities, here are some suggestions on where to find them.
Did you know that the ECCS Resource Directory has categories for Enrichment Programs, Art – Painting, Pottery, Libraries, Music, Outdoor Spaces, Sports & Recreation, Summer Programs and more?
The Original Southington Drive-In offers movie nights with family-friendly films every Saturday from May 30 to September 19. It is $20 per carload (cash only) with kids' activities in the field before the movie starts. Many people pack a picnic supper.
 The Southington Farmers Market is held every Friday on the Town Green from June 26 to September 25. There are weekly themes, live music, story time with the Southington Public Library and the ECCS will be there twice a month on the starred days below.
 The Southington Public Library has a variety of programs for kids of all ages (and adults too) and check out their summer reading program.
The YMCA Camp Sloper Outdoor Center is open for free to Southington and Cheshire residents on Sundays for their "Community Day", no membership is required. Property hours are from dawn until dusk.
The Southington Recreation Department offers a variety of programs and entertainment opportunities. Their free Kid's Entertainment Series, featuring magicians, jugglers and other kid-friendly entertainers, is every Tuesday evening at 6 pm from June 30-August 4 at the Drive-In pavilion. The town pools and splash pads are now open and are free for residents. Here are their upcoming/current programs for youth and families.
Follow the ECCS on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn where we share other activities and special events. Have fun exploring the activities in our town. Bread for Life Summer Lunch ProgramBread for Life's summer lunch program, with support from the public schools and South Central Health District, offers a free lunch for Southington children. June 22nd to August 14th Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays - Lunches and programming available at Depaolo Middle School from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Grab your lunch and stay for some exciting programming from local volunteers! Tuesdays and Thursdays - Grab & Go lunches available for pick-up at Bread for Life from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Also available week of August 17th - 21st. NEW Tuesdays June 23rd - July 7th - Grab & Go lunches available for pick-up at Recreation Park (baseball concession stand) from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Learn more at https://breadforlife.us/ Food InsecurityFood insecurity continues to impact many families in Southington. Several local programs are available to support families and individuals who may be experiencing difficulty accessing consistent, nutritious meals. Bread For Life - In addition to the children’s summer lunch program, they have other meal programs including lunch program, meal delivery, senior services, and more. Southington Community Services - Southington residents can sign up for the food pantry by calling the office at 860-628-3761 and scheduling an appointment. Families or individuals who qualify for the food pantry may come in once a week for food. Southington Community Services also provides energy assistance, emergency assistance, assistance with state programs, and more. Plate It Forward Southington - Plate It Forward Southington is based on the pay it forward model of giving. If you are hungry and would like a meal, simply go to one of the participating restaurants, pick a slip off the Plate it Forward sign board and bring it to the counter or table. The list of participating restaurants is Fancy Bagels, Chik-fil-A, and Saint’s Restaurant on Queen Street, Paul Gregory’s Bistro Cafe on Center Street, Fancy Bagels Xpress on Buckland Street, and Southington Lions Den in downtown Plantsville. Additional resources can be found in the ECCS Resource Directory in the Food, Economic & Social Services category. Annual Presentation ReviewOn May 28, 2026, the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington hosted our annual “State of Early Childhood in Southington” presentation and breakfast.
You can find a summary of the event and links to all the slides which includes information about Births and Kindergarten Start Age, Childcare Availability, our role as a Local Governance Partner, and Local Needs Assessment at https://www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/2026-state-of-early-childhood-presentation/.
Stakeholders and parents can get more involved with the ECCS by joining the LGP Community Table advisory group or the ECCS board of directors (contact Joanne if interested), making a donation and sharing information. This free event was funded by a grant from the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood via the LGP Intermediary, Shine Early Learning.  Summer ReadingJoin the Southington Public Library's DINO-mite summer reading program packed with t-riffic adventures! Record your reading, participate in enriching programs, and earn chances to win prizes! You can register in person at the Children's Services Desk or online through Beanstack. For every 5 days that are marked toward your child having read at least 20 minutes, they will receive one ticket that can be put toward the Grand Prize drawings. Don't forget to check out all the great programs and activities they have scheduled over the summer here!
Camp SparklerCamp Sparkler is back for another fun-filled summer of growing & learning for families with children 0-5 years old! Starting June 22, 2026, families can play their way through 10 weeks of FREE, virtual camp to explore topics related to social and emotional learning: from being flexible to calming down! Each week, families will get introduced to a new “big idea” and then they’ll find related songs, play activities, picture books, and more in the Sparkler app to explore the theme. The Sparkler app is available for iOS and Android in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, and Arabic. To learn more and find your access code, go to www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/sparkler/. Upcoming EventsSouthington Farmers Market - The Southington Farmers Market is held on the Town Green every Friday from 3 to 6 pm, starting June 26th until September 25th. The ECCS will be exhibiting on these dates:
August 14th - Southington Summer 2026 Bookmobile Tour - Join us at either stop so your child can pick out a FREE book from the Read to Grow Bookmobile! August 25th - ECCS Book Club - More details to come in the July Newsletter. Fill out this survey to help us schedule future dates and choose topics. For more details, visit www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/events/ or follow us on our social media. Ways to Support the ECCSDid you know that the ECCS does not receive funding from the Town of Southington or the Board of Education? Our work to support the parents and caregivers of Southington’s youngest citizens is funded primarily through grants we have applied for. Receiving contributions from individuals like you helps support our operations and allows us to show our larger funders that there is strong community backing for this work. There are many ways that you can support our work -
Facebook @ECCSouthington Instagram @ECCSouthington Threads @ECCSouthington X/Twitter @ecc_southington Bluesky @eccsouthington.bsky.social About UsThe Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington is a group of committed educators, parents, grandparents, healthcare and childcare providers, business owners, civic organizations, and members of the community who are deeply invested in the growth, development, and academic success of young children in Southington.
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