This weekly gathering time is for babies (up to 12 months old) and their caregivers. Bring your questions and insights, and enjoy conversation with other parents of little ones in our engaging baby play space! A licensed parent educator will be present to visit with families and will facilitate a circle time during the last half hour of class. Arrive anytime during this drop-in experience; we’d love to see you!There is no cost for this drop-in class.Questions? Reach out to lynnea.pfohl@winona.k12.mn.us

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!

ECFE Around Town is an exciting extension of our Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program, designed for families, caregivers, andchildren from birth to age 5 across the district. Just like our traditional ECFE classes, this program offers:★ Fun, age-appropriate activities★ Opportunities to connect with other families★ Discussion time focused on parenting and child development★ Helpful resources and community informationThe home base for this class will be at Wesley Church, but often moves to various outdoor playgrounds. Watch our “Winona ECFE” Facebook page for updates on location. We will also be doing fun “POP UP” events throughout the year, keep an eye on our Facebook page for advertising.

PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERSAs your child’s first and most important teacher, we want to support YOU. The best part is that we can do this in the comfort and privacy of your chosen location. Whether you’re a new parent or have years of experience, this ECFE offering is designed to meet you where you are emotionally & physically! Licensed parent educators provide these FREE consultations & create a supportive space for you to reflect on your parenting, troubleshoot with a professional, & connect with community resources. Sample discussion topics: Prenatal questions & concerns, postpartum difficulties, navigating life’s transitions, family changes, infant care, developmental concerns, emotional challenges with children, sleep concerns, separation, challenging behaviors, and more.If you are an expecting parent or a parent with a child up to one year old, we will also bring a FREE ring sling and teach you how to use it during a special WELCOME BABY visit.Contact the ECFE office at 507-494-0913 to schedule an initial consultation.

The Itty Bitty Book Club delivers engaging early literacy & circle time experiences directly to the homes of our Licensed Child Care Providers that are located in the Winona Area Public Schools District. SIGN UP for a monthly home visit from our Licensed Early Childhood Staff. Each visit includes:★ Fun, age-appropriate activities★ Interactive circle time★ A playful reading program★ Resources on early literacy for parents& caregivers★ Support to the providerVisits run September-May & are scheduled once a month.Call 494-0920 for more information or to get started!

Join us for a unique class designed to inspire hands-on exploration through your child’s perspective. Each session begins with dedicated parent-child interaction time, allowing children and families to engage in various learning activities and playful exploration in the classroom.Together, you’ll enjoy circle time, where music, movement, and discovery foster connection and joy. While children continue their activities, adults move to a separate space for a tailored parenting discussion based on the Parent Education Core Curriculum Framework. These sessions draw from research-based resources, including Love and Logic, Conscious Discipline, and Incredible Years, as well as insights from podcasts, blogs, and video channels led by today’s top specialists in early childhood development.

PARENTING IS TOUGH...LET’S DO IT TOGETHER! Join us for a class that includes learning activities for children and parent discussion. Parent and child interactiontime is an opportunity to spend uninterrupted quality time with your child. During this time we have activities created by an Early Childhood teacher based on a theme and focused on all areas of your child’s development.Parent discussion is conducted in a separate space based on YOUR needs with a focus on the Parent Education Core Curriculum Framework. Discussions are supported by:★ Research based curricula and materials such as Loveand Logic, Conscious Discipline and Incredible Years.★ Podcasts, blogs and video channels run by today’s topspecialists in different areas of early childhooddevelopment.

Playing outside promotes curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Studies have found that children who spend more time in nature exploration had improved learning outcomes. Come join us as we discover our world and learn together. There will be a combination of guided exploration and open-ended nature play. We will meet rain or shine, and we will spend time outdoors. Please dress yourself andyour child appropriately.

Through the exploration of various podcasts on varying topics, parents gain confidence in their problem solving and critical thinking. This helps continue to increase parenting skills as children advance through developmental stages. The primary procedure for the teaching of this class will be through the sharing, listening and discussion of various Podcasts. The teacher will share a podcast for the week for parents to listen to before class and then a discussion will be held on the podcast/topic during class. Small groups, round robins and individual discussion will also be used. ★ Each week, prior to the start of class the teacher will send out an email to the parents in the class with the information about the podcast(s) that we will discuss. Parents will be given a running list of all podcast episodes shared and discussed along with readings, notes, and handouts to keep. Children will participate in learning activities with a licensed teacher that are tailored to meet their needs while parents are in discussion group.★ This class requires time on your own outside of class.

Join us for a fun and creative ECFE class where stories come to life! Each week, we will read a favorite children’s book together and then dive into a hands-on art project inspired by the story. This class encourages early literacy, creativity, and parent-child bonding in a playful and supportive environment. Perfect for young children who love to imagine, explore and create!

Have you or your child experienced any trauma? Are you looking for parenting support so that you can be the best parent possible? In this separating trauma-based parentingclass we offer parents/caregivers education and support to understand the effects of trauma on children and develop strategies for healing and building safe, secure relationships. This class covers topics such as; understanding trauma’s impact, building safety and trust, self-care for parents and promoting healing for yourself and your family.