Center for Children and Families

Center for Children and Families The University of Texas at Dallas Center for Children and Families promotes optimal child development by enhancing research, practice and outreach.

Fall 2026 Tabling Events are here! 🍂✨ Stop by The Plinth to meet the Center for Children and Families team, grab some FR...
09/07/2026

Fall 2026 Tabling Events are here! 🍂✨

Stop by The Plinth to meet the Center for Children and Families team, grab some FREE treats, and learn more about what we do!

Mark your calendars:
🍹 Mocktails:
Sept 8 (Tue) | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Oct 7 (Wed) | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

🎈 Balloon Animals:
Sept 29 (Tue) | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Oct 14 (Wed) | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

☕ Hot Coco:
Nov 3 (Tue) | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Bring a friend and come say hi! We can’t wait to see you there! 👋💙

Kicking off the new school year with our CCF Student Training Institute! 🌟We loved welcoming so many new and returning f...
09/04/2026

Kicking off the new school year with our CCF Student Training Institute! 🌟

We loved welcoming so many new and returning faces to learn, connect, and collaborate. From getting everyone on the same page during our training sessions to sharing ideas through community engagement and research presentations, it was an incredible start to an exciting year ahead. 📚✨

Thank you to everyone who joined us and brought so much energy! We can’t wait to see all the amazing work this team will do for children and families this year.

Drop a 💚 in the comments if you’re ready for a fantastic semester and if you see a familiar face tag them!! ☺️

Confidence grows with context. 💛Children naturally feel more capable when exploring topics they already know. Understand...
08/31/2026

Confidence grows with context. 💛

Children naturally feel more capable when exploring topics they already know.

Understanding how kids rate their own knowledge helps us see when they feel confident trusting their own understanding—and when they look to adults for guidance.
Read what research led by Dr. Mills reveals about children’s knowledge, relative judgments, and confidence! 🧠

How do you encourage your child’s confidence when they’re learning something completely new? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

Through programs like Play It Forward, we love seeing how everyday interactions and playful exploration build children’s confidence step by step. ✨

La confianza crece con el contexto. 💛

Los niños se sienten naturalmente más capaces cuando exploran temas que ya conocen. Entender cómo los niños evalúan su propio conocimiento nos ayuda a ver cuándo se sienten seguros de su propia comprensión y cuándo buscan la guía de los adultos.

¡Descubre lo que revela la investigación de la Dra. Mills sobre el conocimiento, los juicios relativos y la confianza en los niños! 🧠

¿Cómo fomentas la confianza de tu hijo/a cuando está aprendiendo algo completamente nuevo? ¡Déjanos tu respuesta en los comentarios! 👇

A través de programas como Play It Forward, nos encanta ver cómo las interacciones diarias y el juego ayudan a construir la confianza infantil paso a paso. ✨

We’re excited to share that the Center for Children and Families has been selected for a grant from the Orchid Giving Ci...
08/28/2026

We’re excited to share that the Center for Children and Families has been selected for a grant from the Orchid Giving Circle to support our work expanding parent-support and developmental screening services for Mandarin-speaking families.

This support will help us continue making research-informed resources, developmental screenings, and family services more accessible to the communities we serve across North Texas.

Thank you to Orchid Giving Circle and Communities Foundation of Texas, for recognizing and investing in this work and the families at the heart of it.

We’re excited for what this support will make possible and for the opportunity to serve even more families in our community! THE ORCHID GIVING CIRCLE orchid_giving_circle Communities Foundation of Texas

08/19/2026

⏰ ONE MONTH LEFT to register for Play It Forward! 🎉 Our fun and interactive parent-child program starts September 19.

If you’ve been thinking about signing up your little one, now’s the time! Don’t miss the chance to be part of the fun. 💛

📣 Help us spread the word! Share this with your friends, family, neighbors, or anyone with a little one who would love to join us.

The countdown is on — register through the link in bio✨

❤️

✨ So proud of our student researchers!Our CCF students and students from our affiliated labs represented at SPUR ☄️ shar...
08/17/2026

✨ So proud of our student researchers!

Our CCF students and students from our affiliated labs represented at SPUR ☄️ sharing their research, connecting with the UT Dallas community, and showing just how much dedication goes into the work happening behind the scenes.

We love seeing our students take what they’ve learned and confidently share it with others. 💚

Congratulations to all of our SPUR presenters! We’re so proud of you! 👏

How do everyday moments turn into early language wins? 🗣️✨Our latest Research Recap explores the LENA system—a wearable ...
08/13/2026

How do everyday moments turn into early language wins? 🗣️✨

Our latest Research Recap explores the LENA system—a wearable device that gives researchers a window into a child’s everyday language environment. By measuring back-and-forth interactions, it shows just how powerful simple conversations and playtime can be!

At Play It Forward, we believe every child deserves access to the tools, resources, and playful environments that build strong foundations for learning. Understanding how children learn language helps us design better programs to support caregivers, educators, and young minds together. 🧸💬

Swipe through to see how LENA helps measure conversational turns and language exposure! ➡️

What’s your favorite conversation-starter or game to play with the little ones in your life? Let us know below! 👇

08/12/2026

Ever wondered if your child’s language skills are right on track or how bilingual learners progress across both languages? 🗣️💬

Hear from Alina on how technology like the LENA device helps researchers, teachers, and experts support early language development, speech therapy interventions, and long-term communication skills.

Registration for Play It Forward is officially OPEN! 🎉 Spots are limited, so visit the link in our bio to reserve your family’s space today. 📲🔗

How do children learn language? Our latest Research Recap explores the LENA system, a wearable device that gives researc...
08/10/2026

How do children learn language? Our latest Research Recap explores the LENA system, a wearable device that gives researchers a window into a child’s everyday language environment.

Swipe through to learn how this technology helps measure conversational turns, child vocalizations, and the impact of early interactions on language development. ➡️📖

08/07/2026

Unlock your child’s full potential with Play It Forward! 🧠✨

This 12-week playful learning program at UT Dallas helps parents guide their little ones (ages 0–3) through key developmental milestones using hands-on, play-based strategies.

Program Details:
📅 When: Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM (Starts Sept 19, 2026)
📍Where: University of Texas at Dallas
👥 Who: Children ages 0–3 & their parents
💲Fee: $200 for the full 12-week program

What You’ll Learn:
1. Match play to your child’s unique temperament.
2. Encourage positive behavior and independence.
3. Understand the powerful benefits of play-based learning.

Give your child a strong start while building community with other parents!

🔗 Ready to join? Scan the QR code or click the link in our bio to enroll!

📬 For questions, email: [email protected]

Address

800 W Campbell Road, CRA 12
Richardson, TX
75080

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+19728833876

Website

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