Children's & Young Adult Collection

Connect & Play is a parent and me program that offers monthly events to foster community, reduce stress, and support both parenting students and their children along with the parenting community. The Connect and Play activities aim to provide a supportive space where parenting students can connect with one another, reduce stress, and engage with their children in a positive, meaningful way. The program aims to support the mental health and well-being of parenting students, as well as their young children. The program events include read-aloud sessions, musical engagement, play activities, and regulating activities.

In the 2025-2026 academic year, with successful securement of external funding from our partners at Tri-City Mental Health, the program also aims to expand its offerings, incorporating more regulating activities for both parents and children, such as workshops on prenatal yoga, infant massage, and yoga with children, as well as providing resources like parenting and children's books, story time materials, and well-being supplies.

Connect & Play Study (IRB-25-126)

The goal of this study is to identify the program's impact on building community and support for parenting students and children's learning, development and well-being. Additionally, the study will offer valuable insights to enhance and tailor the program. 

Interested in Participating? Receive an Amazon Gift Card!

Have you attended one of our Connect & Play sessions? If eligible, you will receive a $10 Amazon gift card for the completion of a pre-survey and a $15 Amazon gift card for the completion of a survey after attending our event.

Additionally, at the end of the semester, participants will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and a gift for your child that totals $25 for taking part in a focus group scheduled on Friday, December 5th from 11:30am-1:30pm. Lunch will be provided. 

For questions regarding the study, please contact Dr. Giselle Navarro-Cruz, gnavarrocruz@cpp.edu, Dr. Sally Najera Romero, sallyromero@cpp.edu, and/or Denise Urzua, daurzua@cpp.edu. 

Connect & Play Team