Bristol Early Childhood Collaborative

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Bristol Early Childhood Collaborative Bristol Early Childhood Collaborative, formerly Making Bristol Better – Your Family’s Go-To Spot in Bristol CT! Want to help your child get ready for school?

The Bristol Early Childhood Collaborative (BECC) is deeply committed to supporting families by focusing on key areas such as family and community engagement, early literacy, health and wellness, child development, and kindergarten readiness—and so much more. We want to empower caregivers with the tools, resources, and activities they need to nurture their child’s growth and learning from the very start. In addition, we strive to help families discover fun, enriching opportunities for children of all ages throughout the Bristol community, share helpful parenting tips, and connect them with valuable local resources. Our vision is: To be finalized this fall
Our mission is: To be finalized this fall

Get Involved! The Bristol Early Childhood Collaborative (BECC) welcomes families, caregivers, and community members to join us in making a difference. If you’re interested in attending upcoming meetings or getting involved with one of our committees, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to learn more about how you can contribute your voice, ideas, and energy. Please email [email protected] for information on upcoming meetings or about the following opportunities for parents:

- Advisory Board/Parent Leader Alumni Group
- Special Education Hub
- Parent Ambassador Program
- Appetite for Reading volunteer opportunities

Be sure to check out one of our Appetite for Reading bookshelves or a Little Free Library near you! We believe in the power of reading and encourage you to spend at least 20 minutes a day reading with your child. Ask us about:

- Ready4K to receive practical tips and activities via text messages to prepare for kindergarten,
- Our website where we share helpful tips to prepare you and your child for kindergarten,
- Sparkler to enroll in a playful developmental app that helps caregivers connect through learning and fun, and
- Registering on-time for kindergarten. Registering on-time for kindergarten ensures that your child attends their “home” school, receives critical information about events for entering students that occur prior to the school year, open-houses, meet and greets and a chance to win a first day of school ride on a firetruck. Children of Bristol residents who will turn five (5) years old before September 1 are eligible to start kindergarten in the upcoming school year. Kindergarten registration typically begins on February 1 each year via www.bristol.k12.ct.us. Please note: While we share a variety of resources, the Bristol Early Childhood Collaborative and its fiduciary, the City of Bristol, does not necessarily endorse all external content shared on our page.

It's Wellness Wednesday!Did you know that Bristol Hospital has several new Dr's and Practitioners that have joined their...
10/21/2026

It's Wellness Wednesday!

Did you know that Bristol Hospital has several new Dr's and Practitioners that have joined their Pediatric team? Read about them below, and schedule an appointment with them today!

10/21/2026

🚨 ATTENTION CONNECTICUT FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS! 🚨

YOUR VOICE NEEDS TO BE HEARD!

The Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board is holding a public hearing, and this is an important opportunity for family child care providers to speak up about the potential consequences of Connecticut's Early Start program.

📅 Wednesday, October 21, 2026
🕔 5:00 PM
📍 Legislative Office Building, Hearing Room 2B, Hartford, CT

💻 Testimony may be provided in person, virtually, or in writing.

⚠️ REGISTRATION DEADLINE: TODAY, OCTOBER 20, AT 5:00 PM!

🐝 WHY FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS SHOULD SPEAK UP

Early Start is intended to expand access to affordable, high-quality child care. However, we are deeply concerned that its requirements may place an unreasonable burden on small, home-based programs.

Family child care providers often operate alone. We are the teachers, caregivers, administrators, cooks, cleaners, and business owners—all at the same time.

Requirements that may be manageable for larger child care centers can be extremely difficult for a single family child care provider to meet and maintain.

Without meaningful changes and accommodations for home-based programs, we fear that Early Start could:

❌ Create overwhelming administrative and compliance burdens.

❌ Make it increasingly difficult for independent family child care providers to compete and remain financially sustainable.

❌ Push small, licensed home-based programs out of business.

❌ Reduce child care choices for Connecticut families, particularly those seeking intimate, home-based care for infants and toddlers.

A program designed to strengthen early childhood education should not inadvertently force the closure of the very small businesses that have supported Connecticut families for generations.

The Connecticut Family Child Care Coalition believes family child care providers deserve a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their businesses, their livelihoods, and the families they serve.

📢 WE ENCOURAGE PROVIDERS TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND CONCERNS!

Oral testimony is limited to three minutes per speaker. Written testimony is also accepted.

🔗 Registration and information:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eXlqdsmTQeqh7mm8_YkaNg #/registration

Look for the Early Childhood Education Endowment Advisory Board.

🐝 Family child care is an essential part of Connecticut's early childhood education system. We cannot afford to lose it.

Connecticut Family Child Care Coalition

Early Voting Starts Today! Your Voice Matters! At the Bristol Early Childhood Collaborative (BECC), we believe that stro...
10/19/2026

Early Voting Starts Today! Your Voice Matters!

At the Bristol Early Childhood Collaborative (BECC), we believe that strong communities help build bright futures for our youngest learners!

Voting is one way parents, caregivers, and community members can have a voice in decisions that shape the future of our children and families.

Little eyes are always watching and learning! Talk to your children about voting in simple, age-appropriate ways. Explain that voting is how grown-ups help make important decisions for their communities.

Make a plan to vote and let your voice be heard!

You can always count on the BECC team to go all out when it comes to community fun!   Such a good time at the indoor “tr...
10/16/2026

You can always count on the BECC team to go all out when it comes to community fun! Such a good time at the indoor “trunk or treat” at Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center tonight!

We love to collaborate across agencies!  This week, we visited all of the Bristol Family Resource Centers to provide par...
10/16/2026

We love to collaborate across agencies! This week, we visited all of the Bristol Family Resource Centers to provide parents with a workshop about Screen Time. It’s not about eliminating, it’s about finding the balance in the digital world we live in 💖

Please consider donating to our 2nd annual Coat Drive!  Together we can help keep children warm this winter!
10/16/2026

Please consider donating to our 2nd annual Coat Drive! Together we can help keep children warm this winter!

📣💙 Parents, Your Voice Matters! 💙📣Have you ever wondered how local and state government decisions are made or how you ca...
10/15/2026

📣💙 Parents, Your Voice Matters! 💙📣
Have you ever wondered how local and state government decisions are made or how you can speak up about the issues that matter to your child and family?
Join the Bristol Early Childhood Collaborative (BECC) for our FREE 2-Part Parent Advocacy Training Series! This interactive series will help parents better understand how government works and learn practical ways to use their voices to advocate for their children, families, and community. 🗣️❤️
📅 Thursday, October 22 & Thursday, October 29
📍 Imagine Nation – 1 Pleasant St., Bristol
🍽️ FREE Dinner: 5:30–6:00 PM
🗣️ Workshop: 6:00–7:30 PM
🧸 FREE Childcare: Children can enjoy an evening exploring the museum while you participate!
We’re excited to partner with the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance and the Bristol Family Resource Centers for this opportunity to help Bristol parents become more informed, confident, and connected advocates.
✨ You don’t need any advocacy experience, just a desire to learn and make your voice heard!
📲 Space is limited, so scan the QR code on the flyer or click here: https://forms.gle/GxPmPFycxKviWBTD7 to register!
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Wellness Wednesday: Celebrate National Dessert Day! Today is National Dessert Day, and here’s your reminder that wellnes...
10/14/2026

Wellness Wednesday: Celebrate National Dessert Day!

Today is National Dessert Day, and here’s your reminder that wellness is about balance, not perfection! 💛
Enjoying a favorite sweet treat with your little ones can be part of a happy, healthy relationship with food. Dessert can also create opportunities for family connection, whether you’re baking together, sharing a special treat after dinner, or trying something new.
For little ones, baking together is also a fun way to practice counting, measuring, following directions, taking turns, and building independence with a delicious reward at the end!
So go ahead and enjoy something sweet today.
👇 What’s your family’s favorite dessert?

Please join us in wishing our Parent Ambassador Cristina Gutierrez a HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY today!    Cristina brings so m...
10/14/2026

Please join us in wishing our Parent Ambassador Cristina Gutierrez a HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY today!

Cristina brings so much life and joy to our work in the community and we are so happy to be able to celebrate her today! 😘🎉🥳🎂

Address

718 Pine Street
Bristol, CT
06010

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