Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) - Eden Prairie Community Education

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Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

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About Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

You are your child’s first and most important teacher! Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes help you be the best parent to your child. ECFE classes are designed for you and your child age birth to 5. ECFE is unique to Minnesota and is a program of Eden Prairie Schools Community Education. From school-year and seasonal classes to playtime and special events, ECFE programs do the following: - Support your child's healthy development through engaging activities - Help you discover effective parenting tips you can use immediately - Allow you to enjoy parent/child time including songs, activities, games, and lessons that will help your child thrive in every way - Give families a chance to step away from the rapid pace of today's world and ease the stresses families face.

Do you have questions about tantrums, sibling relationships, bedtime routines, healthy eating, or developmental milestones? Schedule a confidential one-on-one consultation with an experienced parent educator who will connect with you by phone, email, or video conference. This consultation is free to all Eden Prairie families with children ages birth through 5 years old. Parents of a K-12 child may also request a consultation for a $35 per hour fee.

Email KMatthews@edenpr.org to learn more and schedule your free appointment.

3 and 4 Year Olds

Outreach Classes

Parent Education - In Person

Parent Education - Virtual

Featured Courses

Parents of Preschoolers 2024-25
Parent Education - In Person

Do you have a preschool aged child and would like support with parenting your preschooler? Join other parents in a Parent-Educator led class to share the joys and challenges that come with this stage! This adult only class provides education, connection and strategies to support your child on the topics of development, cooperation, communication, problem solving, emotional intelligence, and more. Held in person at the Community Education Building, 8100 School Road. Course is free, no registration required! Child care available for a fee- please see sliding fee scale on page 3 (pre-registration required for child care)

Small Wonders 2024-25
0-1 Babies

Enjoy this relaxing, informative class for children who are less than one year old. This class is designed to be your time to slow down, enjoy your little one and develop a supportive network with other parents. Parents and children enjoy songs, puppets, musical instruments and other fun activities in our bright and baby-safe classroom. A knowledgeable parent educator will lead interactive discussions on feeding, sleeping, safety, brain development, balancing your life as a new parent and more. Non-Separating. Select your class based on your child’s age as of September 1, 2024.

FREE - Tummy Time Essentials (birth to precrawling)
0-1 Babies

Join us to learn from a licensed pediatric physical therapist the essentials to help your child enjoy tummy time, and massage that can provide comfort and relaxation. You will also learn ways to position your baby to minimize head shape issues and work on midline head posture for visual development. This class is recommended for children who are NOT crawling. Free class, no registration required!

ECFE Outdoor Learning - Let's Go Outdoors
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

Outdoor experiences naturally provide children with opportunities to develop their whole selves while also learning hands-on about the world around them. Children’s free time outside dropped by 38% between 1979 and 1999. “Unstructured” outdoor play today amounts to only about 30 minutes per week for each of our children. That’s barely 4 minutes per day. Research shows that when children have outdoor experience in nature, they are happier, healthier and do better in school. It also improves learners’ attention, levels of stress, self-discipline, interest and enjoyment in learning and physical activity and fitness. (Jeffers Foundation) ECFE Outdoor Learning/Nature-based play, will include but not limited to the following: digging holes, exploring, building stick forts, daydreaming in your secret spot or just “mucking around” in the woods. Class will happen all Fridays ECFE is in session, no matter the weather. Please dress for the weather and the bugs! Free class, no registration required! Class will be held at Cedar Ridge Outdoor Learning area. 8905 Braxton Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55347 *Park in the general parking lot and walk to the left side of the building to the sign for Outdoor Learning and the path into the woods. Call 952-975-7200 with questions.

Fantastic Fridays 2024-25
Multiple Ages

Register weekly for indoor exploring time in the Historic Gym with a children's teacher and parent educator in this non-separating class. Children birth to 5 are welcome and each week will bring new activities. Weekly registration opens on Saturday for the upcoming week.

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