Eden Prairie Community Education

Would you like to explore some helpful ways to communicate with your baby? This class will introduce you to some of the basic signs that will help you navigate the frustration that babies and parents experience.

This class is designed for families that are wanting extension learning activities that accompany our virtual field trip to the School Bus garage! Included in the “Field trip in the bag kit” is craft activities and materials, book suggestions, parent interaction ideas, coloring book and video to help guide your learning at home. Fun adventures await! More information will be shared with participant via email upon registration.

Are you wondering what you can do to help your new baby's digestive system work better, or help relieve congestion? You will learn some helpful techniques from a physical therapist certified in infant massage. Start with a short five-minute routine each day that will help comfort and soothe your baby, as you get to know each other better.

This FREE weekly virtual class will offer support and education for parents of babies, 0-12 months of age. Michele Welte, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner will discuss breastfeeding and share tips on feeding solids to your baby. Come with your questions! Each class will take place via Zoom on Thursdays, 1:30-2:30. Register online and a link will be emailed to you the week of class.

Are you the parents of twins, triplets, or more? Join this once a month multiples class for support from other parents of multiples, parent education, and play time for the children. Sign up for one or all the classes, $15 per class. Register only one child for this class and the remaining children birth to 5 are free!

This five week online class will focus on parent's role in supporting their child's emotional growth and intelligence. Using research from Gottman Institute, "Emotion Coaching: the Heart of Parenting." We will discuss and explore the five-step method that builds emotional intelligence and creates positive, long-lasting effects for children from toddlers to teens. This is a five week virtual discussion class - links will be sent via email upon registration.

Mindful parenting means that you bring your conscious attention to what’s happening, instead of getting hijacked by your emotions. Managing our own emotions and behaviors is the key to teaching kids how to manage theirs. Parenting young children is hard work! Let's support each other and learn skills to be more mindful of our reactions to our children during this online 5-week discussion class.

READY! for Kindergarten is a nationally recognized program that has been shown to give parents and caregivers the skills and tools to help children enter kindergarten at or above grade level. This class will include training for parents on reading, writing, math and social-emotional skills that children need to thrive in school and is taught by a licensed early childhood parent educator. Every family that attends a READY! for Kindergarten session receives a high-quality collection of learning tools to further their child's progress towards school readiness. Additionally, there is a fall, winter, and spring session and each session offers new content and new toys, so register for all three sessions! The session is for the parent/caregiver ONLY. Please register yourself for the class and include any additional adults that will be attending with you. Childcare is available while parents are in the training session. Advance registration is required. Please note: READY! for Kindergarten is funded through a grant from The Foundation For Eden Prairie Schools (FEPS) and is only offered at no cost to Eden Prairie residents who meet the income requirement. This is a professional development opportunity for educators and caregivers to earn CEU credits, as well as for parents.

Early Childhood Screening Appointments If your child will be starting kindergarten fall of 2021 or if you have a concern about your child’s development, please make an appointment for Early Childhood Screening. Screenings are held at the Eden Prairie Schools Administrative Services Center, 8100 School Road, Eden Prairie, MN, 55344. Please enter through The Welcome Center Door #1A. Virtual/Distance Early Childhood Screening is available, if needed, for those children starting kindergarten fall of 2021. Contact us at comed@edenpr.org or call 952-975-6940. Covid-19 Precautions: Everyone who enters the Administrative Services Center, age 6 and older, must wear a mask. Maintain social distancing as much as possible. Adult temperature checks are required at the building entrance, child temperature checks are done at the screening room entrance. Only 1 adult is allowed to accompany the child to screening. What age should my child be screened at? If your child is between the ages of 3 and 5, it is time to schedule his/her Early Childhood Screening to check all areas of development including hearing, vision, speech, and motor abilities. What if my child has already been screened? If a child has been screened and the parent or guardian can provide sufficient documentation that demonstrates that a comparable screening has been completed, even if the screening was completed in another state, that child does not need to be re-screened. A screening is considered comparable to Early Childhood Screening if it meets the Minnesota ECS program standards and was completed between the time a child turned three and entered kindergarten, or within 30 days of kindergarten entrance. Please have your previous district send the screening summary one of these ways: Email: comed@edenpr.org Mail: Eden Prairie Community Education Attn: Early Childhood Screening 8100 School Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Fax: 952-975-6920 What information is gathered at screening? Discover more about your child’s development and learning, such as: Thinking, language, and communication skills Social and emotional development Large and small muscle coordination Height, weight, hearing, and vision Early Childhood screening is one way to support children in their early years of growth and development. It is also a way to identify children who may benefit from early childhood special services before they enter school and connects families with the appropriate resources and programs. For more information regarding Minnesota early childhood screenings, access the following link which is available in multiple languages. http://www.echominnesota.org/library/early-childhood-screening Where is screening held? Screening appointments are held at the Administrative Services Center at 8100 School Road, Eden Prairie. Enter through the Welcome Center Door 1A. You can also call 952-975-6940 or email comed@edenpr.org for additional information or to make an appointment.

This class is for parents with multiple young children who would like to come together to connect with other families. Your child(ren) will participate in engaging activities and an educational group time filled with stories, songs, and enrichment. A licensed parent educator will provide resources and parent discussions on a variety of parenting topics. Gradual Separating