Carrollton Early Childhood PTA Kids-Giving Day

CARROLLTON EARLY CHILDHOOD PTA

Kids-Giving Day

by Diane M. Ciarloni | photos courtesy of CECPTA

The mind of a child is awesome, beginning its navigation of the learning process from the moment a newborn’s eyes open. A miniature hand reaches out and instinctively wraps around the first adult finger it encounters. Bingo! He (or she) just learned there’s a big dude in the room. Soon, he learns the big finger belongs to but it also allows parents to build a strong, supportive network. There is a modest annual membership fee someone who offers food, warmth, comfort, protection, and something really nice of $25, which covers monthly meetings called love. September through May along with a variety of programs. Activities include The people at the Carrollton Early it progressed from there. The name in weekly virtual/in-person, age specific play Childhood PTA (CECPTA) believe those early days was the Valwood Park groups, monthly parties and social events, children are capable of learning even a Elementary Preschool PTA. Several PTAs members night out and game nights, few complex elements before they hit popped up in the informative kindergarten. It begins with that first finger contact, and the six women who, in 1958, area at that time, with 10 of them chartered. They encouraged speakers and low-cost established what is now CECPTA believed A short time later, the Valwood Park organization decided to drop all affiliation with a specific school and become, instead, a community organization. It wasn’t until 1993 that the name Carrollton Early Childhood PTA was adopted. kids and parents to look around their communities to identify needs and solutions. childcare, community outreach programs, sunshine meals for new parents or any members in need. All of those things make up the set agenda, but there is a Today, the CECPTA great deal more shines its primary focus on providing excitement popping up throughout the activities, support, friendships, and year. Sometimes, projects jump out of education for the parents of children something as unassuming as a casual ranging from newborn through preschool. conversation, which is exactly what Not only do the infants, toddlers, and pre- happened with the Kids-Giving Day on schoolers benefit from the organization, September 12.

“Tara Peckham and I were talking about the North Texas Giving Day,” explains Sarah Hess. “I was just thinking out loud and said I wondered if there might be a way we could tie a project for our kids into the Texas Giving Day program. Tara mentioned how, one summer, her kids raised money for a charity they liked with a

lemonade stand. We tossed the idea back and forth and decided yes, we certainly could do that and we could do it in conjunction with North Texas Giving Day.”

The two ladies put out the word, calling for kids ages three to six and their parents to join the fun. They encouraged kids and parents to look around their communities to identify needs and solutions. One came up with washing windows and mirrors. Another suggested picking up dog poop from yards. And of course, lemonade stands and cookies.

Hess and Peckham did some checking and found a bill signed by Gov. Abbott in 2019. It stated kids under the age of 18 could sell beverages, such as lemonade, at parks or in front yards without a permit or license fee.

“We had nine families participate this year and we were thrilled. The families chose the charities for their projects. Our oldest participant was 11. The next was eight. After that, they were all really, really young. We want to do it again next year and give parents and kids plenty of time to think about it.”

CECPTA tries to involve its kids in a different service project each month. They encourage the children, and the parents, to pay attention to the various charities and to learn what they do and to decide which ones they want to support.

“We encourage parents to talk to their kids about these things and to grow them from a very early age to understand compassion and the concept of helping others. It’s amazing how young minds can be trained in that direction.”

What’s important to note is that 100% of the money raised by CECPTA is used to promote the welfare of area children and their families through parent education, children’s programs, family activities, and community outreach to local schools and organizations.

There are approximately 150 families in CECPTA. Anyone wishing to do so may visit. Cecptafundraising@gmail.com