Area of Focus
Early Care & Education - Birth to 9 Years Old
Hamden has 27 Center based early care and education programs and 31 Home based programs. Many programs are year-round, serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Some programs have before and after care for children ages 5 and up.
Hamden currently has 4 center-based programs that receive state grants allowing for eligible families to obtain financial support for childcare. Preschool slots (children ages 3-4) are located at Building Blocks Early Learning Center, The Hamden Early Learning Program, The Learning Curve Daycare, and Sleeping Giant Daycare. Infant and Toddler slots (children under 3yrs) are available at The Learning Curve Daycare.
Hamden families at or below the poverty level are eligible for free early care and education in Home based child care programs through Early Head Start coordinated by All Our Kin.
In order to provide the highest quality childcare to families, Hamden’s Partnership works closely with center based and home based programs to provide information to staff and families, connect them with resources, and facilitate year round professional development for administrative and teaching staff.
Hamden currently has 4 center-based programs that receive state grants allowing for eligible families to obtain financial support for childcare. Preschool slots (children ages 3-4) are located at Building Blocks Early Learning Center, The Hamden Early Learning Program, The Learning Curve Daycare, and Sleeping Giant Daycare. Infant and Toddler slots (children under 3yrs) are available at The Learning Curve Daycare.
Hamden families at or below the poverty level are eligible for free early care and education in Home based child care programs through Early Head Start coordinated by All Our Kin.
In order to provide the highest quality childcare to families, Hamden’s Partnership works closely with center based and home based programs to provide information to staff and families, connect them with resources, and facilitate year round professional development for administrative and teaching staff.
Family Access and Information
A recent survey conducted by HPYC to parents with children under age 9 (Nov 2022) revealed that Hamden families would like information about child development, childcare options, community resources, transition from preschool to kindergarten, children with special needs, challenging behavior, developmental delays and disabilities, and parenting classes. HPYC works with community agencies, the Town of Hamden, and the Hamden Public Schools to provide information and host events which address these requests.
The Hamden Family Resource Center directly serves families with children, prenatal through the younger elementary school years. The FRC has programs including play and learn groups, parenting classes, developmental screenings through the Sparkler App and Ages & Stages Questionnaire, family literacy activities in collaboration with Hamden Adult Education, personal visits using “Parents as Teachers” Curriculum, and summer preschool programs. These services enhance parenting, promote family involvement, help parents to understand developmental milestones, connect families with resources, and help children to succeed socially and academically.
The Hamden Family Resource Center directly serves families with children, prenatal through the younger elementary school years. The FRC has programs including play and learn groups, parenting classes, developmental screenings through the Sparkler App and Ages & Stages Questionnaire, family literacy activities in collaboration with Hamden Adult Education, personal visits using “Parents as Teachers” Curriculum, and summer preschool programs. These services enhance parenting, promote family involvement, help parents to understand developmental milestones, connect families with resources, and help children to succeed socially and academically.
Transition to Kindergarten
Hamden’s Partnership for Young Children focuses on connecting the early childhood years (birth through preschool) with the elementary years (beginning with kindergarten). The goal is to help provide a smooth transition for children who are entering kindergarten. Children must be 5 years old by September 1st to enter kindergarten in the fall of that school year (law effective 2024-2025 school year).
To plan most effectively, Hamden Public Schools needs families to register their children for Kindergarten in the spring. The Partnership and the Hamden Public Schools work together to provide registration information and to encourage all families to register their children. HPYC collaborates with the schools to improve the materials and process for registration. This includes a yearly information session, via Zoom, for parents of children entering kindergarten to learn what the daily schedule is like, as well as social and cognitive expectations.
Prior to kindergarten, children are educated in the home and in a variety of settings. There is a wide range of development as well as a wide age range when children begin kindergarten. The Partnership works with the area childcare staff and Hamden’s kindergarten staff to expand the understanding of educational approaches and to align curriculum and expectations. In collaboration with the Hamden Schools, the Partnership has developed an informational form, which parents can ask current preschool teachers to fill out and send to the elementary school their child will attend. The purpose of this form is to give information about your child’s strengths and what type of environment your child learns best. In late spring, you can ask your child’s teacher to complete this form.
If you are concerned about the development of your child who is entering kindergarten, please contact Judy Antignani at Alice Peck Learning Center, 203-407-2010 or [email protected].
To plan most effectively, Hamden Public Schools needs families to register their children for Kindergarten in the spring. The Partnership and the Hamden Public Schools work together to provide registration information and to encourage all families to register their children. HPYC collaborates with the schools to improve the materials and process for registration. This includes a yearly information session, via Zoom, for parents of children entering kindergarten to learn what the daily schedule is like, as well as social and cognitive expectations.
Prior to kindergarten, children are educated in the home and in a variety of settings. There is a wide range of development as well as a wide age range when children begin kindergarten. The Partnership works with the area childcare staff and Hamden’s kindergarten staff to expand the understanding of educational approaches and to align curriculum and expectations. In collaboration with the Hamden Schools, the Partnership has developed an informational form, which parents can ask current preschool teachers to fill out and send to the elementary school their child will attend. The purpose of this form is to give information about your child’s strengths and what type of environment your child learns best. In late spring, you can ask your child’s teacher to complete this form.
If you are concerned about the development of your child who is entering kindergarten, please contact Judy Antignani at Alice Peck Learning Center, 203-407-2010 or [email protected].
