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 2 we will continue our weekly discussion of the variety of baby questions parents have, but also add in highlights from a variety of authors that discuss sleep strategies with the wee ones. No need to worry about reading the books, the Parent Educator will do the work for you.     

Sibling care is available upon request at registration.

• When: Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to noon
• Where: Parent Education Room 103, Sibling Care Early Childhood Room 106
• Term 1: Sept. 6, 2019 through Nov. 1, 2019. No class on Oct. 4, Oct. 18.
• Term 2: Nov. 8, 2019 through Jan. 10, 2020. No class on Nov. 29, Dec. 27

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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!

• When: Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Where: Early Childhood Room 106
• Term 1: Sept. 6, 2019 through Nov. 1, 2019. No class on Oct. 4, Oct. 18.
• Term 2: Nov. 8, 2019 through Jan. 10, 2020. No class on Nov. 29, Dec. 27

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This class is designed for children from the ages of 30 months through preschool. This class will focus will be on sensory integration (getting MESSY!) Let your child explore a new material each week. Help your child learn about the world around them while developing their social-emotional and fine motor skills. This class will be full of different sensory activities, which help to regulate our brains. You and your child should come prepared to get messy. Before class adjourns, the early childhood teacher and parents will have a brief discussion while children continue with activities.
Parents and children do not separate in this class.

• When: Wednesdays, 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• Where: Early Childhood Room 106
• Term 1: Sept. 4, 2019 through Oct. 30, 2019.

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This class is designed for children from the ages of 30 months through preschool. Celebrate your child’s natural curiosity.  Your child will be encouraged to explore, plan and create with help from you and our staff. Give your child the opportunity to tap into their imagination and begin to understand how things work. Before class adjourns, the early childhood teacher and parents will have a brief discussion while children continue with activities. Parents and children do not separate in this class.

• When: Wednesdays, 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• Where: Early Childhood Room 106
• Term 2: Nov. 6, 2019 through Jan. 15, 2020. No class on Dec. 25, Jan. 1.

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On Monday evenings in September and October, ECFE will offer a four-week class on parenting with your partner, based on Willard F. Harley’s book, “His Needs, Her Needs for Parents.”  Come to class to discuss topics such as handling in-laws, dividing domestic tasks, choosing child-rearing methods, and maintaining quality time together as a couple. Additionally, there will be time to address immediate challenges and celebrations going on at home as in the typical separating classes.

• When: Mondays, 5:15 to 7:15 p.m.
• Where: Early Childhood Room 106
• Term 1: Sept. 9 through Oct. 28, 2019

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This is a small group class for dads, moms or other primary caregivers and the children they care for. This parenting class will focus on supporting caregivers in strengthening their parenting skills, increasing children’s social skills, preventing and addressing behavior problems in children below the age of 8. "The Incredible Years Curriculum" is an evidence based curriculum focusing on building social emotional skills in children and parents. The class is taught in conjunction with staff from Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center. For additional information about this class or to talk about registering, contact Lynnea Pfohl at 507-494-1468.

• When: Mondays, 5:15 to 7:15 p.m.
• Where: Early Childhood Room 106
• Terms 2 and 3: Nov. 11, 2019 through March 23, 2020. No class Dec. 23, Dec. 30, Feb. 24, March 9.

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Our sure-to-be entertaining Term 1 discussion will center around Jennifer Traig’s book, “Act Natural: A Cultural History of Misadventures in Parenting.” We will consider the implications of the author’s findings and observations, both in our individual parenting lives and in Western society generally.  Studying this book will provide parents with a broader perspective from which to make decisions about and develop their family’s philosophy around child-rearing.

• When: Mondays, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Where: Early Childhood Room 106
• Term 1: Sept. 9, 2019 through Oct. 28, 2019.

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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 ECFE at 494-0913 with questions about the class.

• When: Wednesdays, 8 to 10 a.m.
• Where: Early Childhood Room 106
• Term 1: Sept. 4, 2019 through Oct. 30, 2019
• Term 2: Nov. 6, 2019 through Jan. 15, 2020. No class on Dec. 25, Jan. 1.

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Our Term 2 class is based on the book “How Much Is Enough?: Everything You Need to Know to Steer Clear of Overindulgence and Raise Likeable, Responsible and Respectful Children.” This book is packed with practical guidelines, helpful tools and visual aids that make parenting successfully feel just a little more accessible. Join us to discuss a topic that’s especially helpful to consider during the holidays, with year-round, life-long benefits.  

• When: Mondays, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Where: Early Childhood Room 106
• Term 2: Nov. 11, 2019 through Jan. 13, 2020. No class on Dec. 23, Dec. 30.

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The Search Institute of Minneapolis has done extensive research on qualities, opportunities, relationships and environments that help children succeed. In "What Young Children Need to Succeed" authors Jolene L Roehlkepartain and Nancy Leffert, Ph.D., report on their research in an easy to read format that has ideas parents can implement in their home, neighborhood and community. Information from the Search Institutes’ ongoing research will be included.

• When: Mondays, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. OR Tuesdays 8 to 10 a.m. OR Thursdays 8 to 10 a.m.
• Where: Early Childhood Room 106
• Term 1: Sept. 9, 2019 through Oct. 28, 2019 (Monday class); Sept. 3, 2019 through Oct. 29, 2019 (Tuesday class, no class Oct. 1) and Sept. 5, 2019, through Oct. 31, 2019 (Thursday class, no class Oct. 17).

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In "How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm," Mei-Ling Hopgood shares with readers how other cultures outside of the United States react to common challenges that all parents face: bedtimes, potty-training, feeding, play and more. Class discussion will review a variety of ways to address common childhood needs and the fact that there isn’t one right way to parent.

• When: 8 to 10 a.m. on Mondays OR Tuesdays OR Thursdays
• Where: Early Childhood Room 106
• Term 2: Nov. 11, 2019 through Jan. 13, 2020 (Monday class, no class Dec. 23, Dec. 30); Nov. 5, 2019 through Jan. 14, 2020 (Tuesday class, no class Dec. 24, Dec. 31); Nov. 7, 2019 through Jan. 16, 2020 (Thursday class, no class Nov. 28, Dec. 26).

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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.

• When: Wednesdays, 12:30 to 2 p.m.
• Where: Early Childhood Room 106
• Term 1: Sept. 4, 2019 through Oct. 30, 2019 (No drop-in on Sept. 11, Oct. 9)
• Term 2: Nov. 6, 2019 through Jan. 15, 2020 (No drop-in on Nov. 13, Dec. 11, Dec. 26, Jan. 1, Jan. 8)

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.

Term 1: Aug. 19, 2019 by noon

Term 2: Oct. 16, 2019 by noon

A confirmation phone call will be made the week following the registration deadline with classes starting on:

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 for Term 1
Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019  for Term 2

If you miss our random draw deadline, you can call for availability of remaining classes at 507-494-0913.

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.