CT Office of Early Childhood

Wishing you a very Happy Holiday from the Office of Early Childhood! 🎄✨ As we prepare to start a new year, we hope that you are ringing in the holidays with your families and loved ones. Sending all the joy and light to you and yours. 🌟❤️

🌟 Some families aren’t aware of the amazing child care services in their community. That’s where you, the provider, comes in! Talk to your families about home visiting programs offered in Connecticut. For more information, 🔗 visit ctoec.org/home-visiting.

Share sensory experiences with children of all ages! Talk with children about what they are seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling to connect the experience with language. Let's engage those senses and watch the joy unfold. 💛 Let’s play! ctoec.org/play

December begins Safe Toys and Gifts Month. 🎁📷✨ Take a close look at any toys your child receives to make sure they are age-appropriate and safe for them to use. For more suggestions on safe gift giving, visit naeyc.org/resources/topi…

Service Navigators at the Office of Early Childhood are experienced guides that can help you find resources to manage your business, build your team, and connect with families. 🔗 Connect with your Service Navigator today! ctoec.org/elevate/servic…

Use the OEC Registry to build and track development plans for your team, access free trainings, and guide them through scholarship and incentive opportunities. Explore all that’s available to you and your team at oecregistry.org

Happy Special Education Day! 🎉📚 The Office of Early Childhood wants to thank all of the providers, teachers, administrators, and agencies who empower differently abled children and their education every day.

We know how important your family is to you. That’s why at OEC, we celebrate your family just as much as you do! 💙 Visit ctoec.org to learn what resources and supports we can offer you.

As November comes to a close, we want to take a moment to thank all of the amazing providers, caregivers, and parents who care for, teach, and love the incredible children of Connecticut each and every day. 💐

When kids engage in pretend play, they're exercising their brain's command center! The prefrontal cortex gets a workout, boosting speech development, social and emotional skills, decision-making, planning, and self-regulation. Let’s play! ctoec.org/play

The OEC Registry is the place where early childhood professionals in Connecticut can apply for scholarships and earn Head Teacher status. It’s all at no cost—just real tools for real professionals. Register today and take your career to the next level: oecregistry.org

✨Elevate is the Office of Early Childhood’s quality improvement system. Elevate gives child care providers the tools, guidance, and support to improve their programs over time at their own pace. Learn more. ctoec.org/elevate/

🍎 Early learning experiences are some of the most important in a child’s life. As a teacher, you’ve got a pretty big job to do! But we know you can do it – and OEC wants to be at your side every step of the way. Go to ctoec.org to learn more!

🏡 It’s Family Engagement Month! Here are ways you can get involved: attend a public meeting at your town hall or library, help out at a child care center, or start a town activity like a community garden. 💬How do you like to stay engaged in your neighborhood? Let us know below!

💤 It’s never safe to put baby to sleep on a couch or adult bed. ✅ For naps and at night, babies should sleep in a crib or bassinet that meets current safety standards. Learn more safe sleep tips at ctoec.org/safe-sleep.

Social play helps children learn how to engage with peers, build empathy, and understand others' perspectives – skills that are crucial for lifelong social and emotional well-being. ✨ Let’s play! ✨ ctoec.org/play

🔎 Searching for the right child care can be stressful. Where do you begin? 💡 Start with 211 Child Care’s online search tool! Answer a few simple questions to find a list of trusted, licensed care programs near you. 🌟 Visit 211childcare.org for more information.

📖 Literacy starts early! This National Young Readers Week, read an old favorite with your child, introduce a new book, or take a few out of the library to share all week long! 📚 Which books will you be reading with your child this week?

211 Child Development provides families and parents of young children with support during the early years of parenthood. If you have questions about your child’s development, or just need some support, call 1-800-505-7000 or visit cdi.211ct.org.

📢 OEC and UConn are doing research to improve local child care services. Parents of young children are invited to share their child care experiences in a survey for the chance to win $100. 🎉 Email childcarestudy2025@gmail.com to get the survey link now.