BrightStart™ is a fun experience for the whole family. Parents who are expecting, or have a child 
4 years old or younger and older children up through 8 years old are invited. Other care-givers are also welcome! BrightStart is a family time; it's a place to create memories and bonds and to learn in new ways. It is a shared family experience in our local community, where children see familiar faces and the families can build a supportive group of peers.
Our Learn & Play Kid’s Program is play-based and offers infants through 8 year olds opportunities to learn and have fun while developing listening and attention skills. BrightStart™ is offered by Building Healthy Families, a nonprofit organization in Manchester, CT. The workshop is typically offered two times per year, in the Spring and Fall.
Purpose: BrightStart is for parents who want to learn how to enhance their young child's future success– by providing a language rich, safe, and secure environment for them to grow physically and emotionally strong through healthy eating, play and good discipline.
We offer: Eight weeks of practical experience based on old-fashioned love and the latest science. It's about the nurture and encouragement children need to succeed. Each Saturday morning is designed to promote a sense of community. There are times for parent sharing and discussion to support and encourage one another. In addition, we provide family style nutritious meals and some material resources for parents, including age appropriate books and toys. Children are cared for by our well-trained and dedicated staff.
The 8-week BrightStart emphasizes the everyday opportunities parents have to give their children a great start. Parents learn about brain development and how to nurture their child's brain. During the course, parents learn skills to increase their child's readiness to learn. This includes developing their child's ability to focus, develop secure emotional bonds, boost language skills and promote physical health. Everything about BrightStart is geared to help parents raise happy and healthy children who are prepared for the brightest start possible.
Join our Interested in BrightStart email list to get a reminder when our next session is scheduled and have an opportunity to enroll.
Volunteer: Volunteers from our community run BrightStart. Tasks include: meal preparation, set-up, serving meals, welcome team, outreach, photography, administrative and organizing behind the scenes, working with the children, making craft kits, puppets or blocks, and parent engagement. It takes 30-50 volunteers for a successful 8-week session. Volunteers need to attend volunteer training, you can email
Support: We are grateful for the financial support this program depends on. The generosity of the friends of Building Healthy Families and the William and Alice Mortensen Foundation and the Savings Bank of Manchester Charitable Foundation make BrightStart For Families possible.
Results: The outcomes experienced by families participating in BrightStart have been independently evaluated. You can read the evaluation here. Our latest Annual Impact Report is also available.