Early Childhood

Fun Mud Day brings spirited fun for young children

Eastern’s Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) hosted children from its program and from E.O. Smith High School in Mansfield for its 11th annual “Fun Mud Day.” The...

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Elisabeth Craig

Award-winning children’s author shares insights with education students
Newbery Honoree Kyle Lukoff visits campus

Eastern welcomed acclaimed children’s author Kyle Lukoff to an educational lecture, Q&A session, and book signing on March 25. The event, attended by more than 40 students, faculty, and...

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Kyle Berson '26

Literacy event unites authors, families, teachers in love of reading

Children and families filled Eastern’s Child and Family Development Resource Center on Sept. 17 for a childhood literacy event titled “Read a Book, Love a Book: Developing...

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Kyle Berson

Biology student publishes children's book on marine biology

A biology major at Eastern Connecticut State University recently published a children’s book based on her study of marine biology. Junior Jasmine Antonucci’s “Friends with the...

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Elisabeth Craig

CECE wins Telly Award for video on children’s music development

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE) recently won a Telly Award for a video involving music development in childhood education.

Posted on June 10, 2024 by Noel Teter

Eastern's preschool staff present on dramatic retelling

Two representatives from Eastern’s Child and Family Development Research Center (CFDRC) recently presented at the National Association for the Education of Young Children in Nashville, TN....

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Elisabeth Craig

Teachers from campus preschool present on nurturing curiosity

Five teachers from the Child and Family Development Resource Center at Eastern Connecticut State University have conducted research on the importance of nurturing a child’s curiosity and...

Posted on November 01, 2023 by Elisabeth Craig

CECE wins eighth Telly award for video on how books can create inclusive classrooms

A video released this past fall by the Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE) at Eastern Connecticut State University on “Using Children’s Books to Help Build Inclusive...

Posted on June 01, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Campus playground awash with mud and mayhem
Fun Mud Day makes post-pandemic return

The typically orderly playground of the Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) devolved into muddy chaos on May 5 for the preschool’s annual Fun Mud Day. For two hours, children...

Posted on May 11, 2023 by Michael Rouleau

Education research looks at autistic toddlers’ social turn-taking

A new method for parents of autistic toddlers to encourage their children to take turns in social communications is the focus of an Eastern Connecticut State University research team in the Center...

Posted on April 25, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Grace Lin speaking at Eastern Connecticut State University.

Author Grace Lin reflects on worldview granted by children's books
Award-winning author graces Visiting Writers Series

Grace Lin, award-winning children’s author and illustrator, visited Eastern Connecticut State University’s campus on April 5 to talk about, “Windows and Mirrors of your...

Posted on April 13, 2023 by Jack Jones

Eastern graduate and CECE research assistant Stefanie Dominguez ’17 sits in front of the remote video recording technology she used to conduct research for her honors thesis.

Early childhood education videos reach 5 million YouTube views

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE) reached a new milestone on March 23 when it passed 5 million views on its YouTube channel. The center is a...

Posted on March 23, 2023

Student leaders attend IMPACT Conference on civic engagement

Six student leaders at the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) at Eastern Connecticut State University attended the recent IMPACT Conference on civic engagement for students from colleges around...

Posted on March 08, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Eastern preschool teacher co-presents on translanguaging at national conference

Preschool teacher Karla Alamo recently presented with researchers from three universities at the National Association for the Education of Young Children in Washington, D.C. Alamo is a bilingual...

Posted on January 10, 2023

Eastern's teacher preparation programs receive Frank Murray Recognition

Eastern’s teacher preparation programs recently received the 2022 “Frank Murray Recognition for Continuous Improvement” by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator...

Posted on October 12, 2022 by Jack Jones

Eastern students give local preschoolers a summer ‘Jumpstart’
CCE program develops pre-K skills

Four Eastern students are spending their summer working with Willimantic children through the early childhood program known as “Jumpstart.” Through the Center for Community Engagement...

Posted on August 02, 2022 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern named a 2022-23 College of Distinction

Colleges of Distinction has recognized Eastern Connecticut State University for a variety of distinctions in its 2022-23 rankings, including badges of distinction for Public Colleges, Connecticut...

Posted on June 16, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

3 students co-author article on dual language learners

Three Eastern Connecticut State University students have co-authored an article with professor emeritus Jeffrey Trawick-Smith and Julia DeLapp, director of the Center for Early Childhood Education,...

Posted on May 18, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

Students reflect on spring 2022 internships

Eastern Connecticut State University students participated in both on-campus and off-campus internships during the spring 2022 semester. Internship locations ranged from Eastern’s Office of...

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Jacob Blain and Bobbi Brown

Award-winning illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal discusses journey

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal on April 13. Martinez-Neal gave a book talk on three of her works, shared...

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Bobbi Brown

Rezai contributes to 'Fast Fierce Women' book

Niloufar Rezai, director of the Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) at Eastern Connecticut State University, has contributed a chapter in the book “Fast Fierce Women.”...

Posted on February 16, 2022 by Bobbi Brown

Eastern's early childhood center wins 7th Telly Award
Video investigating play of dual-language learners wins bronze award

The Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE) at Eastern Connecticut State University was recently awarded a “Telly Award” for one of its video productions. The video, “A Study...

Posted on June 03, 2021 by Dwight Bachman

Students work with Windham preschoolers through Jumpstart program

A group of Eastern Connecticut State University students are volunteering with the national early education organization known as Jumpstart. Established in 1993 with programs in 14 states,...

Posted on April 05, 2021 by Bobbi Brown

‘Decolonize your bookshelf’: University Hour speaker challenges readers

New York Times best-selling author Dhonielle Clayton gave a University Hour presentation at Eastern Connecticut State University on March 10 about the “radical” power of...

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern alumni teach with caring and dedication during pandemic

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began a year ago, more than three million schoolteachers across the nation — from preschool to high school — pivoted to online learning in spring 2020 and...

Posted on March 01, 2021 by Ed Osborn

Eastern’s child center celebrates 15 years of caring for Windham children

The Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) at Eastern Connecticut State University is celebrating its 15th anniversary this February. Over the past 15 years, the on-campus preschool...

Posted on February 25, 2021 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern’s early childhood education center fills ‘virtual’ void for teacher prep programs

The Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE) at Eastern Connecticut State University has emerged as an invaluable resource for the early childhood education field during the COVID-19 pandemic....

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Michael Rouleau

'What Makes a Toy Good?'

Eastern released a short video on Dec. 3 describing the best toys for young children based on 10 years of research through the Center for Early Childhood Education's (CECE) renowned TIMPANI...

Posted on December 04, 2020 by Michael Rouleau

Julianna Gray receives Gilman International Scholarship to study in Spain

Julianna Gray ’23 of Waterford, CT, has been named the recipient of a $4,000 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad in Spain.

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Dwight Bachman

Recent graduate Allison Lundy's honors thesis accepted for publication

Allison Lundy ’20, a recent graduate who majored in Early Childhood Education and Psychology, has been notified that her honors thesis, “Effects of Active Outdoor Play on Preschool...

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Dwight Bachman

10 Years of TIMPANI: Annual Study Investigates the Paradox of Play

For millennia, toys have elicited joy and laughter in children. They are also fundamental to a young child’s intellectual and social development. In this modern world of smart phones, smart...

Posted on February 01, 2020 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern Reveals 2019 TIMPANI Toy Study Results

Eastern Connecticut State University's Center for Early Childhood Education announced on Dec. 9 that "Family Counters" by Learning Resources has been named the 2019 TIMPANI (Toys...

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Julia DeLapp

Eastern Student Research Lends Insight into Dual Language Learning

Eastern Connecticut State University student Stefanie Dominguez ’18, an Early Childhood Education and Communication major, recently had her research thesis published in the Early Childhood...

Posted on March 08, 2018 by Anne Pappalardo

Eastern's CFDRC Continues to Maintain Excellence

- The Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) at Eastern Connecticut State University was recently notified by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) that...

Posted on March 03, 2018 by Anne Pappalardo

Eastern's Center for Early Childhood Education Reaches 1 Million on YouTube

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE) has reached a milestone on its YouTube account- passing one million views this February. The YouTube...

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Casey Collins

Eastern Reveals 2017 TIMPANI Winner

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Early Childhood Education announced on Dec. 6 that “Animal Kingdom Mega Pack” by Animal Planet has been named the 2017 TIMPANI...

Posted on December 07, 2017 by Ed Osborn

Eastern’s CFDRC Reaccredited!

The Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) at Eastern Connecticut State University was recently notified by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) that...

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Anne Pappalardo

Education students supervise preschool children on the climbing wall of the Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC)

Eastern's Teacher Preparation Program Achieves Reaccreditation

Eastern Connecticut State University recently received continued accreditation through fall 2021 from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), based on the standards of the...

Posted on May 30, 2017

Eastern’s CECE Wins Sixth “Telly” Award

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE) was recently notified that they have been awarded a bronze “Telly” Award for their promotional...

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Anne Pappalardo

Eastern Unveils 2016 TIMPANI Toy Study Results

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Early Childhood Education announced on Dec. 12 that “Plus-Plus®,” a toy made by the Danish company Plus-Plus®, has been...

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Early Childhood Education announced on Dec. 12 that “Plus-Plus®,” a toy made by the Danish company Plus-Plus®, has been named the 2016 TIMPANI (Toys that Inspire Mindful Play and Nurture Imagination)