The Center for Children and Families (CCF) works to promote optimal family and child development through research, training, and outreach. With support from the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at UT Dallas, CCF is home to 19 Center-affiliated faculty who engage in research ranging from parent-child relationships to 
social-emotional health, language development, children's critical thinking, and connections among the contexts of children’s lives.
Translating research to practice, CCF’s community-based Play With Me program provides a free 12-week experience for at-risk children ages 0-3 and their families to foster and support healthy brain development and strong parent-child relationships through semi-structured play sessions. In this informal environment, bilingual developmental specialists share information and facilitate play and learning activities in English and Spanish using 
toys, music, and movement to promote sensitive, stimulating parent-child interaction and provide important support for school readiness.
The Play With Me program is offered during the spring, summer, and fall semesters. During the 10-week summer program, the older siblings of participating children are invited to attend the program. These older siblings engage in separate activities including table games, reading, crafts, and physical activities. Providing a space for older siblings allows more families to experience the benefits of Play With Me during the summer when school is not in session.
We need your support to provide resources to the older siblings and parents of children participating in the Play With Me summer program! Your donations will help provide age-appropriate books and games, supplies for crafts and exercise, and tickets for local experiences for families.
How you can help!
- $10 buys 5 balls and a jump rope
- $20 buys two table games (checkers, board games)
- $100 buys 10 developmentally appropriate books
- $300 buys tickets and parking for 4 families to visit the Dallas Zoo
- $1000 supports ongoing Play With Me needs (staffing, transportation, toys and materials)
