On Feb. 15 at the Crown Expo Center, The Partnership for Children of Cumberland County will host Little Land: Big Play for Families. The event is free and open to families of all ages. It begins at 10 a.m. and the first 300 kids through the door will receive a free superhero cape. Little Land is a chance for families to have an opportunity for the kids to be kids, while the parents learn about resources and services available in our community. The target audience is families with kids under 5 years old, but kids of all ages are welcome to come and play.
What is Little Land?
In March of 2020, the Partnership for Children set out to create an event for families to play and learn; to connect with resources in the local community, as well as allow kids to be kids. To that end, they hosted the first Little Land event. On that Saturday, over 1100 people came to the Crown Expo Center to play. Shortly after that, the world shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, a repeat event was not feasible until 2023. In spring of that year, more than 1100 kids and their adults came out to play. In 2024, the number topped 1500. Not only was the turn-out great, but the response indicated a resounding success as well: 93% of those surveyed said they would come again.
What to expect?
When families arrive at this year’s Little Land, they will be able to walk a red carpet, and the first 300 kids will receive a free superhero cape. Once inside, let the play commence! Kids can play at Jumbo Land, an inflatable obstacle course; there will even be tot-sized Jumbo Land for the smaller tots. There will be Safety Land, where kids can meet real-life police officers and firefighters while their parents have the chance to learn about car seat installation, bike helmets, and other safety concerns; they will even be conducting car seat checks to ensure proper installation.
There will be booths for various agencies, services, and resources so families know what is available to them in the community. Most booths will have free, hands-on activities for kids and families. The Fayetteville Pickleball Club will have a court for people to play and learn about the game of pickleball.
New this year is Sensory Land: a separate space, sponsored by Caring Hearts Behavioral Services. This will be a quieter place for kids with sensory sensitivities, or anyone who just needs a little break from the noise and activity of the main play area. There will be hands-on activities, story time with the Cumberland County Library, and other sensory-friendly recreation.
Also new this year is the NC Zoo. Representatives from the zoo will be on hand with information about the zoo and to answer questions about animals. There may even be an animal ambassador from the zoo at the event.
There may be some cost associated with certain activities, and there will be food for sale, but most will be free for all those attending. According to Sharon Moyer, Community Engagement Administrator, it will be feasible for families to attend the event, participate fully, and leave without having spent any money.
What is CCPFC?
Cumberland County’s Partnership for Children is an agency that serves families with children from birth until 5 years old.
“Our priorities are to provide services and supports that Advance the Well‑being of Children, Strengthen the Early Care Early Education System, and Empower Families.” (from https://ccpfc.org/about-pfc/) The services they provide and resources they connect to are abundant and focus primarily on child and parent wellness, safety, and Kindergarten readiness. Just some of the organizations they partner with include: Dolly Parton’s Imagination library; which provides registered children with one free book per month from birth until they turn 5; Fayetteville Technical Community College and their Parents for Higher Ed program-which helps parents overcome barriers to achieving a college degree; and Head Start-a program in North Carolina which provides free pre-K schooling to eligible children. The organization can connect parents with services ranging from postpartum mental health and nursing support to car seat safety, to finding childcare.
Moyer said, “If we don’t offer the service, we can help connect you with someone who does.”
As the old saying goes: it takes a village to raise a child; the CCPFC can help you find the members of your village.
The Little Land: Big Play for Families event is an opportunity for kids to have fun, play, learn, and just be kids, while their parents play with them but also learn about important, helpful resources they may not otherwise be aware of. While admission and most activities are free of charge for all attendees, there will be opportunities to donate to the organization; all money raised at the event will directly support the services of CCPFC.
Would you like to help make Little Land 2025 a success? CCPFC is still looking for volunteers. Reach out to 910-867-9700 for more information and to volunteer at the event.