There's a saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Throughout the state of Connecticut there are organizations designed to help caregivers prepare their child to learn, grow, and thrive! Each page of the Early Literacy Calendar provides a small amount of information about a free organization or resource and here we can dive a little deeper.
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Public Libraries
Public Libraries
Visit your town’s public library to get a FREE library card. Libraries are places to play, learn, and meet new people. Each one offers a variety of events and services including reading programs, story times, music classes, and more books than you can carry. Remember 133 public libraries are fine free! Once you get your library card, you can borrow items from almost every library in the state!
Read to Grow
Read to Grow
Read to Grow is Connecticut’s premiere early literacy non-profit that operates statewide, providing more than 120,000 books a year to children and families through our Books for Babies, Books for Kids, and Bookmobile programs. Whether it’s supporting families as their child’s first and most important teacher by giving every baby born in nearly every CT hospital their first book or helping families build home libraries through regular and frequent book distributions, Read to Grow is committed to the power of literacy to change lives and to the vision that all children deserve books of their own.
Sparkler
Sparkler
Children grow by leaps and bounds during the first five years of life. Caregivers can support this growth-both physically and mentally-with prompts, activities, and check-ins by using the multilingual Sparkler app. The free app offers screening-Ages and Stages Questionnaires, support with experts via 211 Child Development, and the app provides access to hundreds of screen-free activities to play together.
Help Me Grow
Help Me Grow
Get connected to resources for children and families by contacting Help Me Grow. Reliable information, resources, referrals, and community services, related to health, development, behavior, and learning, supports children and families to reach their full potential. Call 1-800-505-7000 or visit the website.
End Hunger CT
End Hunger CT
In childhood, it’s hard to play, move, or learn when you’re hungry. End Hunger CT provides nutrition education and connects people to the food resources they need including information about summer meals and how to stretch SNAP dollars.
No Child Left Inside
No Child Left Inside
Be a part of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s No Child Left Inside (NCLI) program. NCLI provides family friendly activities, events, and programs to explore Connecticut’s State Parks and Historic Buildings.
CT Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC)
CT Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC)
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC) supports, educates and empowers families of children, from birth to age 26, with disabilities or chronic conditions. Call 860-739-3089 or the website for more information.
Learning Snacks with CPTV
Learning Snacks with CPTV
Looking for more fun activities for you and your child? Sign up for the weekly Learning Snacks newsletter from Connecticut Public full of free activities, games, recipes and videos for fun learning.
Reach Out and Read
Reach Out and Read
As part of pediatric well-visits, pediatricians encourage the development of literacy skills. One organization that works with them is Reach Out and Read, reachoutandread.org. Access tips on reading to and finding books for children at different ages and stages, listen to their podcast about early childhood health and literacy, and explore activities to boost your child’s brain development.
CT Early Learning and Development Standards
CT Early Learning and Development Standards
Learning at home begins at birth. Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CTELDS) helps families in supporting early learning and growth. Find activities for development of brain, social and emotional, physical health, language and literacy skills. View activities in English and Spanish.
Museums
Museums
Museums provide a great opportunity for children and families to read, play, learn, and immerse themselves in educational enrichment opportunities. There are many libraries in CT that offer free admission to museums for young children and don’t forget to reach out to your local public libraries for museum passes!
Birth to Three
Birth to Three
If you have concerns about how your child is developing, self-refer or reach out to 211 Child Development who can connect you to Birth to Three for an evaluation. Evaluations will include areas of development including: cognitive, communication, social and emotional, and adaptive skills. Call 860-500-4400 or visit the website.
Artwork included in the calendar and caregiver information document is courtesy of iREAD Reading Programs.
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