Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

Join the class at any time; babies and parents are always welcomed! 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. There are many opportunities to connect with other parents and together you begin to find your parenting style. Your baby enjoys the other infants and you learn the traditional ECFE circle time songs as well!

Sibling care is available upon request at registration.

• Term 3 1/25-3/29 ~ No class 3/8
• Term 4 4/5-5/31
• Thursdays from 10:00 am - 11:30 am
• Parent Education Room 103
• Sibling Care Early Childhood Room 106

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This class suits toddlers between 12-24 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!

• Thursday
• Term 3 1/25-3/29 ~ No Class 3/8
• Term 4 4/5-5/31
• 8 am - 9:30 am
• Early Childhood Room 106

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This class is designed for children from the ages of 24 months through preschool. Unstructured play is important in healthy brain development. Undirected play helps children learn how to work collaboratively, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and learn self-advocacy skills. When play is child-driven, children practice decision-making skills, move at their own pace, discover areas of interest on their own, and ultimately engage in choices they wish to pursue. Play offers parents a wonderful opportunity to engage with their children and is an important component of social-emotional learning. Come and learn why play is the foundation of your child’s learning. 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

• Term 3 1/23-3/27 ~ No Class 3/6
• Tuesday 10:45 am -12:15 pm
• Early Childhood Room 106

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This class is designed for children from the ages of 24 months through preschool. “Readiness” is a term used to describe preparation for what comes next! Whether your child’s next step is staying home, attending preschool or getting ready for kindergarten come and learn a new skill set. Topics covered will be self-awareness and regulation, understanding social emotional skills, interacting with familiar peers and adults, participating in a group setting, practicing cooperation and responsibility along with artistic thinking and problem solving while creating process art. Before class adjourns, the early childhood teacher and parents will have a brief discussion while their children continue with activities. Parents and children do not separate in this class

• Term 4
• Tuesday 10:45 am-12:15pm
• Early Childhood Room 106

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World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids, by Jessica Joelle Alexander and Iben Sandahl. Almost every year since 1973, Danes have been considered the happiest people in the world. The authors of this book (an American parent married to a Dane and a Danish psychotherapist) believe that’s because of how children in the country are raised, and offer practical suggestions about what American parents can learn from those in Denmark. Framed around six basic principles of Danish parenting, this book will illuminate, inspire, and instruct readers on how to raise happy, well-adjusted, successful children.

• Term 3 1/22-3/26 ~ No Class 3/5
• Monday 11:30 am - 1:30 pm or 5:15 pm - 7:15 pm
• Early Childhood Room 106

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With Children Ages 2-7, by Joanna Faber and Julie King. This new book from 2017 takes the 1980 parenting megahit “How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk,” and tailors it to address parenting problems we deal with in our lives with toddlers through early elementary-aged kids! The material is relatable, accessible, and empowering. The book offers effective, respectful solutions to many common parenting issues experienced in families with young children, and gives parents practical ways to help raise cooperative, connected kids!

• Term 4 4/9-6/4 ~ No Class 5/28
• Monday 11:30 am - 1:30 pm or 5:15 pm - 7:15 pm
• Early Childhood Room 106

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Although a number of books discuss the physical and cognitive abilities of the young children, author Alicia Lieberman, is the first to examine the varied and intense emotional life of children from ages 1 to school age. Drawing on her decades of research and clinical practice, the author addresses a multitude of commonly asked questions, including “Why is ‘no’ so often a child’s favorite response?” The discussion will focus on children, ages 1 through school age, and their view of typical life experiences.

• Tuesday 1/23-3/27 ~ No class 3/6 8 am - 10 am
• OR
• Wednesday 1/24-3/28 No class 3/7 8 am - 10 am
• OR
• Friday 1/26-1/23 No class 3/9 8 am - 10 am
• 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 child. Should you be a taskmaster or a best friend? Is there a middle ground? The pressures of full-time work and round-the clock activities can make that question even more challenging to tackle. Dr. Leonard Sax has experience in guiding these relationships as a family physician and psychologist. In the book, The Collapse Of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown Ups, we will explore Sax’s personal and professional observations.

Term 4

• Monday 4/9-6/4 No Class 5/28 8:30 am - 10:30 am
• or
• Tuesday 4/3-6/5 8 am - 10 am
• or
• Wednesday 4/4-6/6 8 am - 10 am
• or
• Friday 4/6-6/1 No class 5/1 & 5/25 8 am - 10 am
• Early Childhood Room 106

REGISTER

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!

• Wednesday
• Term 3 1/24-3/28 ~ No Drop-in 3/7
• Term 4 4/4-5/30
• 12 – 1:30 PM
• Early Childhood Room 106

REGISTER

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.

• Term 3 1/22-3/26 ~ No class 3/5
• Monday 8:30 am - 10:30 am
• Early Childhood Room 106

REGISTER

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.