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 - 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. Opportunities to connect with other parents and find your parenting style are part of our time together. Your baby enjoys the other infants in the room and you learn the traditional ECFE circle time songs as well! Join the class at any time; babies and parents are always welcomed. Sibling care is available upon request at registration.

For Term 4 we will continue our weekly discussion of all the baby questions parents have, plus we’ll add in some excerpts from the book Mommy Burnout. Dr. Sheryl Ziegler writes about reclaiming your life as a parent. No need to worry about doing the reading of the book if you don’t have the time, the Parent Educator will do it for you!

Sibling care is available upon request at registration.

• Term 3 1/25/19-3/29/19 No Class 3/15/19
• Term 4 4/5/19-5/31/19 No Class 5/10/19, 5/24/19
• Friday's 10:00 - 11:30 am  
• Parent Education Room 103 Sibling Care Early Childhood Room 106

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Note the New Day of the week on Fridays! This class suits toddlers between 12-30 months of age. During parent/child interaction time, parents and toddlers will participate in a variety of activities geared for the busy world of toddlers. This is followed by a brief discussion time for parents while children continue with activities. Discussion topics include ideas for separation issues, encouraging language development, and more. Class ends with a circle time of songs and movement. Parents and children do not separate in this class. Walking or crawling, all toddlers are invited!

• Fridays 8:00 - 9:30 am Early Childhood Room 106
• Term 3 1/25/19-3/29/19 No Class 3/15/19
• Term 4 4/5/19-5/31/19 No Class 5/10/19, 5/24/19

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In this class we will explore cooking, nutrition, and fun with food! The children will be learning how to make easy and nutritious recipes while making healthy food choices. They’ll have the opportunity to measure, use child friendly utensils and still get play time in the Zoom Room.

• Wednesdays 10:45 am - 12:15 pm
• Term 3 1/23/19-3/27/19 No class 3/13/19
• Early Childhood Room 106

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Explore and discover the world outside through experiential, hands-on activities. Parenting discussion will include how to help children learn in nature. Weather permitting, we will go outside to the outdoor classroom for activities. Nature will be brought inside on days where weather doesn’t cooperate. Dress for outdoor play every week.

• Wednesday 10:45 am - 12:15 pm
• Term 4 4/3/19-6/5/19
• Early Childhood Room 106

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Dr. John Gottman’s book, Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child: The Heart of Parenting focuses on the important childhood skills of understanding and regulating emotions. In this class, we will learn how to teach children these skills through Gottman’s five-step “emotion coaching” process. If we can help children master emotional intelligence, Gottman claims, they “will enjoy increased self-confidence, greater physical health, better performance in school, and healthier social relationships.”

• Term 3 1/21/19-3/25/19 No class 3/11/19 11:30 am
• Mondays 1:30 pm or 5:15 pm - 7:15 pm
• Early Childhood Room 106

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The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives, by William Stixrud, PhD, and Ned Johnson examines the essential role that personal self control has in children’s ultimate success and happiness. Stixrud and Johnson base their book on compelling brain science and abundant behavioral research. The authors teach parents how to maintain authority while supporting their children in beating stress and anxiety.

• Mondays 11:30 am - 1:30 pm or 5:15 pm - 7:15 pm
• Term 4 4/8/19- 6/3/19 No class 5/27/19
• Early Childhood Room 106

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Voice Lessons for Parents by Dr. Wendy Mogel offers a guide to the new art of talking to children. The author reviews how each age and stage of a child’s life brings new opportunities to connect through language. Parents will talk about body language, children’s viewpoint and the skills needed to strengthen communication. Discussions will also revolve around the best ways to talk to other adults about your child and their needs.

• Term 3
• Mondays 8:30-10:30 am 1/21/19-3/25/19 No Class 2/11/19, 3/11/19
• or
• Tuesdays 8-10 am 1/22/19 - 3/26/19 No Class 3/12/19
• or
• Thursdays 8-10 am 1/24/19- 3/28/19 No Class on 3/14/19
• Early Childhood Room 106

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Growing Together will focus on supporting both children and parents in the skills needed to be successful to learn within groups. Children and parents will practice age-appropriate skills during the parent-child time. When parents and children separate, children will have the opportunity to practice the social-emotional skills needed to be ready for operating in a group. Parent Discussion will focus on how to support your children in multiple settings and how to prepare yourself for your child’s next step in education. Contact Ann Riebel at 494-0916 with questions about the class.

• Wednesdays 8-10 am
• Term 3 1/23/19-3/17/19 No class 3/13/19
• Term 4 4/3/19-6/5/19
• Early Childhood Room 106

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Parenting isn’t an easy job. It can be hugely frustrating and even lonely trying to figure out what’s best for your kid. The pressure to produce the most healthy, well balanced children can take their toll. Join us to discuss Dr. Sherry Ziegler’s viewpoint on how parents can reclaim their lives and raise healthier children in the process. Mommy Burnout shares strategies to improve relationships with other adults and highlights proven strategies for parent empowerment.

• Term 4 Mondays 4/8/19 - 6/3/19 No Class 5/27/19 8:30-10:30 am
• or
• Tuesdays 4/2/19 - 6/4/19 No Class 5/28/19 8- 10 am
• or
• Thursdays 4/4/19 - 5/30/19 No Class 4/18/19, 5/19/19 8-10 am
• Early Childhood Room 106

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Early Childhood Family Education is partnering with CRAFT to provide support for families with young children that have chemical health concerns. CRAFT is a multi-county project in Winona that provides support, education, and outreach to pregnant women and those who have young children. The goal of the class is to provide support for mothers in the area of parent education, sobriety support, housing support, safety, employment and mental health support. Referrals can be made to the program by contacting Caitlin Callahan (CRAFT) at 507-252-6985 or Ann Riebel(ECFE) at 494-0916. 

• Tuesdays 11:30 am-1:30 pm
• Term 3 1/22/19-1/26/19 No class 1/29/19
• Term 4 4/2/1--6/1/19

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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! No registration required.

• Wednesday 12:30 – 2 PM
• Term 3 1/23/19-3/27/19 No Drop In 2/13, 3/8, 3/13/19
• Term 4 4/3/19-6/5/19 No Drop In 4/10, 4/24, 5/8/19
• Early Childhood Room 106

► SNOW PLAY Monday 2/11/19 8:30-10 am Join us at ECFE to do outside projects, create in the snow and enjoy our winter weather. Dress accordingly and meet at ECFE. Register by calling 507-494-0913 or stop by ECFE.

► YOGA WITH TRISH JOHNSON Thursday 4/18/19 9 -10:30 am Join us as a special guest introduces your little ones to yoga in a simple and structured way. We will learn basic postures and concepts of yoga in a fun and supportive environment. Meet at ECFE. Registration is required, please call 507-494-0913.

► MOTHER’S DAY ACTIVITY TEA Thursday 5/9/19 8:30 - 10 am Let’s welcome spring by bringing your mom to ECFE for a tea party and a special story. Registration required to plan for numbers. Please call 507-494-0913.

► MINNESOTA MARINE ART MUSEUM Tuesday 5/28/19 10:30 - 11:30 am Come explore the Minnesota Marine Art Museum with us! We’ll have a circle time, museum exploration activity and of course, ART! Families can choose to pack a picnic to eat out on the terrace after the event. Registration is required, please call the ECFE office at 507-494-0913.

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.

YES! ECFE has a PTA/Parent Advisory Council that works with staff on program planning, development and special events. The PTA also sponsors special events like a fall color run and winter family dance.