Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

Join the class at any time; babies and parents are always welcome! Babies bring joy and big changes to families. This is a weekly class for infants, birth to 12 months, and their parents. All of your baby questions and insights will be discussed with a Licensed Parent Educator and other parents of little ones. There are many opportunities to connect with other parents and find your parenting style as part of our time together. Your baby will enjoy being around other infants and you will learn the traditional ECFE circle time songs as well. 

Sibling care is available upon request at registration.

• When: Wednesday afternoons, 12-1:30 p.m.
• Where: Parent Education Room 103

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Discover learning through your child's eyes in these parent and child classes. Families will enjoy circle time, themed play, songs, and stories with their children as well as a variety of different activities. A Child Educator will lead this class along with available support from a Parent Educator.

• Ages: Birth to 3rd Grade
• When:Friday mornings, 8:30-10 a.m.
• Where: Early Childhood Room 106

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ECFE Around Town is an extension of our Early Childhood Family Education program for families, caregivers and children ages birth to 5 years old throughout the district. This is a program that, like our other classes, will provide you and your family with a wonderful ECFE experience that includes ideas for creative, fun, age appropriate activities, as well as time to discuss questions on kids and family. Information and ideas on child development, parenting and community resources are also available. 

• When: Thursday late morning
• Where: Locations around town TBD
• No registration required

Drop-In Playgroup is an opportunity for children to learn, grow and develop through play. There is something to keep every child happy and busy, with a baby and toddler area, activities for preschoolers, a great outdoor space plus lots of art, craft and messy play. And what’s even better — we clean up the mess afterwards! 

• Ages: Birth to age 5
• When: Wednesday mornings, 9-10:30 a.m.
• Where: Early Childhood Room 106
• Free! No registration required.

Parenting is tough! Let's do it together.

Join us for a class that includes learning activities for children and parent discussion. Parent and child interaction time is an opportunity to spend uninterrupted quality time with your child. During this time we have activities created by an Early Childhood teacher based on a theme and focused on all areas of your child's development. Parent discussion is conducted in a separate space based on you needs with a focus on the Parent Education Core Curriculum Framework.

Discussions are supported by: 

• Research based curricula and materials such as Love and Logic, Conscious Discipline and Incredible Years
• Podcasts, blogs and video channels run by today's top specialists in different areas of early childhood development.

There will be three classes:

• Monday afternoons, 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
• Monday evenings, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Thursday mornings, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The classes will take place in the Parent Education Room 103, and the Early Childhood Room 106. 

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This curriculum provides parents with the skills required to feel more relaxed, hopeful and
positive about their children and their relationships with them. As you learn more, you will
discover that your job can be really enjoyable, and that you can teach personal responsibility
and respect without losing your kids' love.

Using plenty of real life stories, examples and stand-up comedy, the authors make this a
program that parents really enjoy being a part of. When adults learn in an entertaining, non-
threatening atmosphere, they’re far more likely to beg for even more training.

There will be two classes: 

• Monday mornings, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Wednesday evenings, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The classes will take place in the Parent Education Room 103, and the Early Childhood Room 106. 

REGISTER

Itty Bitty Book Club brings literacy and circle time activities to our Licensed Child Care Providers homes. Sign up for a monthly home visit from our Licensed Early Childhood Staff. Staff brings in activities, circle time and a fun reading program to the child care setting every month, September through May. Call 494-0920 for more information about the program. Note: The Itty Bitty Book Club Child Care Provider visits are scheduled individually and at your convenience.

Parent education, prenatal education, parent-child activities and support for adolescent and expecting parents at the Winona Area Learning Center and Winona Senior High School. Contact Lynnea Pfohl at 507-494-1469 for more information about the Teen Parent Program that is ongoing throughout the school year.

Do you have children who need to run off some extra energy? Well, you are in luck. ECFE's Family Gym Nights at Goodview Elementary School are back. Family Gym Night provides an indoor space for kids to scooter, jump, crawl, play with balls, use riding toys and more. This free family event is geared toward children ages birth to 5 years old. Parent participation and supervision are required. 

• When: Friday nights, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Dates: Jan. 5, Jan. 12, Jan. 19, Jan. 26

ECFE offers classes and activities for parents and their children from birth to age five. The program offers guidance and support for families from licensed early childhood and parent educators. You will also find support and friendship from other parents of small children. In addition, your child will learn through play and develop social skills along the way.

Separating Classes:
All our classes begin with parent child activities where parents and children play together in the early childhood room. Parents then move on to the Parent Education room, facilitated by a licensed parent educator, to meet other parents and discuss issues related to parenting. The children stay in the classroom with a licensed early childhood educator to enjoy a variety of age appropriate activities. Your child will make new friends, enjoy art activities, music, gym time and a snack.

Non-separating Classes:
In our baby and toddler classes, parents do not separate from their children. The baby group is held in the parent education room and the toddler group is held in the early childhood room.

The program encourages positive parental interactions that affect how children develop and learn. Research has shown that ECFE programs involving parents with their children are more effective than programs focusing exclusively on children. In addition, children whose parents are more involved in their early education are more likely to be successful in school.

ECFE is located at Goodview Elementary School. The address is 5100 West 9th Street in Winona.

Yes, fees are on a sliding scale based on a family's income. No one will be turned away due to inabiliity to pay.

A confirmation phone call will be made before the start of a term. Once a term has started, please call for availability at 507-494-0913.