Your energetic little one is growing and trying new things, so establishing routines and being consistent is very important. As your child learns through play and social interactions, you will discuss parenting techniques that help you appreciate the "little things" in your life. Open registration begins in the fall, followed by priority registration for our winter and spring sessions, allowing the group participants to remain together for the entire school year. New participants are welcome to register if space permits. Parents move to a separate room for discussion.

Playing, learning, and discovering are the current priorities as your toddler transitions to a preschooler. Explore a variety of skills that can help you nurture and guide your child through these early years. Parents move to a separate room for discussion. Sibling care available.

Babies learn best by interacting with the people and objects in their environment. Learn about the importance of these early experiences and what you can do to promote healthy development. This class will include parent and baby activity time, parent discussion, and time to connect with other parents. Parents and babies remain together for the entire class. Sibling care is available.

Play isn’t just fun—it’s how young children learn best! This is a thoughtfully designed class that invites children and their grown-ups to explore, imagine, and create together through engaging, open-ended play. Each session offers developmentally rich experiences—like building, pretending, sorting, and creating—that support early learning while fostering curiosity, independence, and joyful connection. Unique activities each week-sign up for one class or more. Parents and child remain together for the entire class. Session 1 on 10/10 - Nature Discovery: Foster sensory and scientific exploration through experiences in our outdoor garden (weather permitting) using materials found in nature. Session 2 on 11/14 - Colors & Creation: Enjoy opportunities for artistic expression through paint, dance, and an interactive circle time.

Being a parent is the most rewarding, and at times, the most challenging job you will ever have. Strengthen your relationship with your child through learning and play and meet other dads to discuss the importance of fatherhood. Parents and children remain together for the entire class.

Being a parent is the most rewarding, and at times, the most challenging job you will ever have. Strengthen your relationship with your child through learning and play and meet other dads to discuss the importance of fatherhood. Parents move to a separate room for discussion. Open registration begins in the fall, followed by priority registration for our winter and spring sessions, allowing the group participants to remain together for the entire school year. New participants are welcome to register if space permits.

Start your day by connecting with other families with babies and young toddlers. Engage in thoughtful topics around your child's development as they explore and discover. This class will include parent and child activity time, parent discussion, and time to connect with other parents. Parents and babies remain together for the entire class.

Enjoy time with your growing toddler through play, planned activities and song. After parent and child activity time (PACT), your toddler will begin to explore his/her independence during the parent discussion which will include topics such as healthy development, new behaviors, language development, and topics chosen by the group. Parents and children remain together for the entire class.

Early literacy begins long before children learn to read. In this playful, interactive class, children explore stories, songs, movement, and hands-on activities that build vocabulary, listening skills, print awareness, and a love of books. While children learn and play, parents will separate for a discussion focused on supporting early language and literacy development at home.

Spark your child's curiosity about how things work and how to use their imagination to create as we explore together. Parents move to a separate room for discussion. Sibling care is available.

Music and movement offer children a fun way to express themselves, build coordination, release energy, and connect with others. In this playful parent-child class, families will enjoy songs, movement activities, and shared experiences that encourage connection, creativity, and joyful learning together. Parents and children remain together for the entire class.

Discover the joy of making music together! In this playful, interactive class, young children and their grown-ups explore rhythm, melody, movement, and instruments while building listening skills, coordination, self-expression, and connection. Children enjoy music activities alongside their caregiver before parents separate for a guided parent discussion. This class helps lay the foundation for a lifelong love of music and learning.

Are you looking to engage in learning opportunities with your preschooler after work? Our Night Owl Preschool provides families the opportunities to experience preschool together. Children will work on curriculum-based school readiness skills including problem solving, interacting with peers, beginning math and literacy. This class includes parent and child time on Tuesday evenings. Parents move to a separate room for discussion on development, age-related concerns and preparing your child for school. Thursday evenings is a child only day.

Join ECFE for a fun family Outing to Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo! Catch the bus or meet us there! We will check out the Oxbow Nature Center where we will do a nature craft and enjoy story time, visit the Zollman Zoo animals, and play with friends in the nature play space. Please register each individual person in your family who will ride the bus from Northrop to Oxbow and back again. No need to register if you will meet us at Oxbow. Bus boards at Northrop at 9:30am, leaves at 9:45am. Bus boards at Oxbow at 12:00pm, leaves at 12:15pm to return back to Northrop. Oxbow Park is located at 5731 County Rd 105 NW Byron MN 55920

Find it tricky to fit in our in-person classes, but want to learn more about effective parenting strategies? Sign up for our exclusive online video library created by ECFE/PAIIR educators about topics from toilet training, to emotions, to play. This self-paced option allows you to access information you need, when you need it. Upon registration you will receive a confirmation email containing the link to view our videos.

This support group is for parents with children who have a delay, disability, or illness, ages birth through grade 5. Discussion topics are chosen by the parents and are specifically focused on the families in the group. Parents can relax knowing that your child is in a safe, fun environment with experienced teachers. This class meets on the second Tuesday of each month. Parents move to a separate room for discussion. No fee but registration is required.

This class will help you understand your young child's behavior and temperament while discovering positive behavior management and parenting strategies. Parents will complete a simple questionnaire to identify need before registration is complete. Referrals are welcome. Class begins with a parent and child activity (PACT) followed by a parent discussion. Parents move to a separate room for discussion. No fee but registration is required. Sibling care is available.