Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Suffolk’s Early Childhood Development Commission, Suffolk Public Schools and the Suffolk Public Library will host Growing Up Suffolk, a community event for families of children from birth to age 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Booker T. Washington Elementary School, 204 Walnut St. 

The free event will include activities, programs and services to encourage family engagement, preschool and kindergarten readiness and access to community resources. 

Growing Up Suffolk aims to provide a free opportunity for Suffolk families and caregivers to engage and interact with little ones while also gaining resources from local partners to support their growth and development. 

The event will feature an interactive science show presented by Mad Science of Hampton Roads at 11 a.m. followed by a school and classroom tour, story time and school bus adventure activity. Additionally, children and families can enjoy an inflatable obstacle course, snow cones, building block stations, garden planting station, raffles and more. 

Community partners that will be present include Suffolk Parks & Recreation Department, ODU School of Dental Hygiene, Suffolk YMCA, Child Care Aware, ForKids, Keep Suffolk Beautiful, Organic Roots, Suffolk Children’s Center and Sentara Healthcare. 

For information contact ecdc@suffolkva.us or 757-514-7169. For information about the Suffolk Early Childhood Development Commission visit www.suffolkpubliclibrary.com/ECDC. For information about Suffolk Public Schools Early Start visit https://www.spsk12.net/academic_programs/early_start. For information about Suffolk Public School Kindergarten registration visit  www.spsk12.net/families/kindergarten_registration. For information about Suffolk Public Library events and classes, outreach and services visit www.suffolkpubliclibrary.com.