A listing of all upcoming events at the Northampton Parents Center and of events hosted by the Northampton Public Schools Early Childhood Center (ECC). Full list and registration for ECC Presents Workshops, Playdates, and Caregiver Café here. All events are FREE.
For all ECC Presents events, please note that you need to register in order to be notified of any changes in location or cancellations: Workshops, Playdates, Caregiver Cafés, Kestrel Walks.
APRIL
Tuesday, April 1, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Northampton Public Schools ECC Caregiver Café. First Tuesdays of the month. In-person at Jackson Street Elementary School. Dinner and childcare provided. More information here. Jackson Street Elementary School, 120 Jackson Street, Northampton, Room 102 (ask for the playroom).
Thursday, April 3: Playgroup Guest Visitors: 1) Alice Barber, LMCH – Bring your questions about early childhood mental health, therapy for families with young children, and how to tell if a child is experiencing a mental health need or if a behavior is within the typical development range; and 2) Chrissy D’Agostino, MA, Independent Educational Consultant and Parent Educator.
Friday, April 4, 9:30 am – 11:30 am: ECC Presents Playgroup – Playdates at Smith College Museum of Art. The museum will open early for play and art experiences for 2-5 year-olds and their caregivers. Attendance is capped at 30 children and registration is required. Smith College Museum of Art, 20 Elm Street, Northampton.
Saturday, April 5, 10:00 am – noon: Winter Market Kids programming at Grow Foods Northampton’s Winter Market with Northampton/Hadley Family Connection & NPC. Crafts and kid-appropriate activities. Live music also from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz Street, Northampton.
Saturday, April 5 to Saturday, April 12: Week of the Young Child in Northampton! Download the full calendar of events and get more information here – all events are free!
Please note changes to Saturday’s schedule (4/12/2025) due to weather. Safety Village & Kestrel Walks CANCELED and will be rescheduled. Historic Northampton Family Fun has been bumped up to 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Wednesday, April 9, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm (in-person): First Aid for Parents and Caregivers, presented by Molly Kitchen of Institute for Wild Med. Edwards Church, Lower Level, 297 Main Street, Northampton. Childcare provided. Registration required for this workshop.
Thursday, April 10, 4:45 pm – 6:00 pm (in-person): ECC Presents Workshop – Pathways to Play w/ Chrissy D’Agostino: How Micro Moments of Play and Connection Can Transform Even the Most Challenging Routines and Sticky Moments with Young Children. Explore how infusing play into our routines and interactions with children can reduce stress, power struggles, and burnout. In-person with childcare available. Register here. Jackson Street School,120 Jackson Street, Northampton.
Friday, April 11, 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Pop-up Create & Play at Art Always! Kids 2+ and their grownups are invited to explore art and sensory stations at Art Always’ new space in Florence. Free! More information to follow. 188 Pine St, Florence.
Monday, April 14: Playgroup Guest Visitor, Nicole Farach, Director of Mathematics, TeachingWorks. Nicole will be at playgroup to present Caregiver Math- ideas for incorporating math activities for little ones at home, special Circle Time songs, and answering questions about early math from caregivers, .
Tuesday, April 15, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: ECC Presents Playgroup – Family Game Time at Forbes Library. Third Tuesdays of the month. Children’s Department, Forbes Library, 20 West Street, Northampton. More information here.
Wednesday, April 16: Playgroup Guest Visitor, Molly Aronson, Grow Food Northampton Educator. Molly will be at outdoor playgroup on Wednesday to share information about farm-to-school education at Northampton Public Schools, kid-friendly recipes, and a farm-fresh snack!
Monday, April 21: NPC CLOSED for April Vacation Week. No playgroup.
Tuesday, April 22 & Wednesday, April 23: NPC will hold two pop-up playgroups during April Vacation Week, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Outdoors at Hampshire YMCA, indoors at Edwards Church if rainy.
Thursday, April 24: NPC CLOSED for April Vacation Week. No playgroup.
Saturday, April 26, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm: Healthy Kids Day at Hampshire Regional YMCA! Face-painting, messy art, plant-a-pot gardening and more. Download flyer here. 286 Prospect Street, Northampton.
Monday, April 28: Playgroup Guest Visitors, Aaron Kagan and Gabriel Reif, Nurturing Dads Network. Nurturing Dads Network is an online support group for dads – anyone who identifies as a dad is welcome.
Tuesday, April 29, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm: ECC Presents Workshop – Keeping Kids Safe: Child Sexual Abuse Pevention 101 Caregiver Training. Workshop will provide parents with skills, language, and tools to help keep their children safe in all situations. Registration required for this workshop. Jackon Street Elementary School Library, Jackson Street School,120 Jackson Street, Northampton.
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MAY
Saturday, May 3, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm: Hampshire Pride’s 3rd Annual Pride Parade! Come march in this year’s Hampshire Pride Parade with NPC! Please email Lindsey at northamptonparentscenter@gmail.com if you are interested in marching. Parade starts at 11:00 am in downtown Northampton, festival afterwards from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm at Thorne’s.
Tuesday, May 6, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Northampton Public Schools ECC Caregiver Café. First Tuesdays of the month. In-person at Jackson Street Elementary School. Dinner and childcare provided. More information here. Jackson Street Elementary School, 120 Jackson Street, Northampton, Room 102 (ask for the playroom).
Tuesday, May 20: Playgroup Guest Visitor, Marcella M. Simpson, NPS Community Preschool Partnership Initiative Coach. Marcella will be at playgroup to share information about dual language learners & cultural considerations in children’s approaches to play and learning.
Tuesday, May 20, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: ECC Presents Playgroup – Family Game Time at Forbes Library. Third Tuesdays of the month. Children’s Department, Forbes Library, 20 West Street, Northampton. More information here.
Wednesday, May 21: Playgroup Guest Visitor, Dan Lemaire, NPS Early Childhood Center’s Coach. Dan is a registered occupational therapist specializing in young children. Come chat with Dan about sensory needs and behavioral challenges you are noticing with your young child!
Monday, May 26: NPC CLOSED for Memorial Day Holiday. No playgroup.
Saturday, May 31, 9:30 am – 11:30 am: 2025 Northampton Community Baby Shower, organized by the Hampshire County Perinatal Support Coalition, in collaboration with ECC and It Takes a Village. It Takes a Village will bring their Pop-up Free Store. Jackson Street Elementary School, 120 Jackson Street, Northampton.
JUNE
Friday, June 6, 9:30 am – 11:30 am: ECC Presents Playgroup – Playdates at Smith College Museum of Art. The museum will open early for play and art experiences for 2-5 year-olds and their caregivers. Attendance is capped at 30 children and registration is required. Smith College Museum of Art, 20 Elm Street, Northampton.
Tuesday, June 10, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Northampton Public Schools ECC Caregiver Café. First Tuesdays of the month. In-person at Jackson Street Elementary School. Dinner and childcare provided. More information here. Jackson Street Elementary School, 120 Jackson Street, Northampton, Room 102 (ask for the playroom).
Thursday, June 12: LAST playgroup of the school year.
