Early Childhood Programs

The Family Resource Center at the Bridge offers many early learning programs to help meet the needs of our community.

Children holding up backpacks

Our Programs

It is beneficial to begin working with children as young as a few months old, and their caregiver, in order to equip them with the social, emotional, and cognitive skills necessary for a smooth transition into kindergarten.

Our Programs Include:

  • Early learning drop-in playgroups for children ages birth to 4 are currently offered at Charter Oak School on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Playgroups at Wolcott, Aiken, and Webster Hill schools will begin in January 2024. 
  • English for Families and Futures
  • Circle of Security
  • Positive Discipline
  • Lending Library
  • Baby Bookworms (family literacy book club)
  • Ages and Stages child development screenings
  • Childcare resources and information
  • Ongoing parent support
  • Access to School Readiness scholarship information
  • Personal visits with certified Parent Educator
  • 1, 2, 3 Kindergarten for Me summer program
  • Family Academy
  • Parent Leadership Training Institute
Mothers helping children with craft outside

Summer Preschool Program

1, 2, 3 Kindergarten for Me is a four week summer preschool program. It has both morning and afternoon sessions and serves children who will enter kindergarten at any West Hartford school in the fall.

The curriculum introduces children to the skills they will need for school success, including activities to build vocabulary and prepare for reading, hands-on math activities, and many opportunities to become comfortable with the school environment. The program includes early math and literacy activities, cooking and crafts, weekly music classes, and special guest visits. Tuition is $80 for four weeks. A snack is provided every day and families are responsible for their own transportation to and from the Family Resource Center. 

The program is one of many provided by the Bridge's FRC that serves more than 1,100 children and parents in West Hartford each year.

Two girls wearing The Bridge Family Center backpacks

Great by 8

Great by 8 enhances the work of our Family Resource Center by organizing members of the community to work on behalf of young children. It serves as an important collective voice for advocacy, a resource for information, and a sounding board when changes affecting early childhood are considered.
 
Great by 8 convenes parents, early childhood educators, health professionals, and committed members of the community to help ensure that every young child in West Hartford is healthy, engaged, and supported.

If you are interested in receiving updates and/or information from Great by 8, or would like to get involved:

Email Us

View, Print, and Copy the Following Great by 8 Resources: