Congratulations on the beautiful addition to your family! This relaxing class is designed to be educational, yet allow you to slow down long enough to have some focused, uninterrupted time to enjoy your infant. You will also meet other parents, sharing questions on sleep, schedules, feeding and development. For ages birth-6 months. Sibling Care is available for this class.

Join other caregivers and their children in an atmosphere created just for babies and toddlers. For ages 6-18 months. Sibling care is not available for this class.

New school, new teacher, new friends. Even when we're excited, a lot of "new" transitions can translate to a lot of new behaviors at home. A licensed parent educator will lead a 90-min seminar designed to help you understand the transition to the first week of school from your 3- or 4-year-old's developmental perspective. After a developmental review, we'll discuss strategies that can promote your child's school adjustment for a successful start to the year. Following the presentation, an ELC teacher and ELC parent educator will answer questions from the audience. Though targeted towards Edina ELC families, any local caregivers are welcome to attend. Perfect for new or returning preschoolers. Cost: Free, but registration required. This seminar is sponsored by Edina Public Schools & Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE). Virtual Link: A link will be shared with you prior to the start of class.

Congratulations on the beautiful addition to your family! This relaxing class is designed to be educational, yet allow you to slow down long enough to have some focused, uninterrupted time to enjoy your infant. You will also meet other parents, sharing questions on sleep, scheduled, feeding and development. Sibling Care is available for this class: https://earlylearning.edinaschools.org/learning/sibling-care

Enjoy time with your baby/toddler exploring the classroom as you listen to music, create art projects, read books and play to learn. A licensed Parent Educator will lead the class as you interact with your child and discuss your child’s social, emotional and physical development. Sibling care is available for this class. For ages 7-11 months. Sibling Care is available during this class: https://earlylearning.edinaschools.org/learning/sibling-care

Twos, threes, fours, and fives, oh my! Welcome to the ‘village’ at the ELFC. In this informal caregiver-only group, you’ll get a chance to get to know other ELFC caregivers as you discuss topics relevant to toddlers and preschoolers. These bimonthly sessions will prioritize organic caregiver connection and conversation (like Joys & Concerns); our licensed parent educator will facilitate the group, and provide evidence-based resources/materials as topics and questions emerge. We know how busy this stage of life can get, so we’d love if you can join us regularly, but we also welcome those who can only attend occasionally. Sibling Care is available during this class: https://earlylearning.edinaschools.org/learning/sibling-care

Drop & Play classes are two hours of complete fun for your toddler or preschooler! The first 90 minutes of class are drop-off time - opportunities for your child to play, create, and socialize with other children while you have time for yourself. During the last 15 minutes of class, come and join your child for a circle time led by one of our early childhood educators.

Being outside allows busy twos to engage all of their senses as they move, create, communicate and socialize. This non-separating class will meet at an Edina park in the fall and spring. Come meet new friends as you learn and enjoy the seasons of Minnesota. For ages birth-5 years. Sibling care is not available for this class.

It can be difficult to determine how to navigate tough topics with your child in an age-appropriate manner. How do we inform our kids of what they need to know, while being sensitive to their stage of emotional development? How do we differentiate between what feels helpful versus overwhelming? Together, we’ll consider evidence-based strategies for addressing difficult themes so you adapt accordingly for a conversation with your family, in your home. Though designed for parents of preschoolers and early elementary students, caregivers of any aged children are welcome.

***Please note that when you register for this individual parenting session, a parent educator will reach out to you directly via email to schedule the exact date and time of your session (it will not be taking place on 9/2/2026 from 1pm-2pm). Individual Parent Education is available if you would like to have a private session with a licensed Parent Educator from the ELFC. Each session is 60 minutes. You pick the discussion topic(s). Here are examples from previous registrants: Talking about race, pandemic parenting, child development, discipline, communication skills, nurturing self-esteem, tantrums, eating, sleeping or toilet training, sibling issues, parent/child relationships, school readiness, any other parenting concerns. Once you register, contact our parent educator Linda Stotts at Linda.stotts@edinaschools.org Sibling Care is available during this class: https://earlylearning.edinaschools.org/learning/sibling-care

Do you have a child entering Kindergarten in the fall of 2027? Join us for a fun series that will be a combination of activities both with your child and separate. Each week will have a different focus: practicing riding a bus around the neighborhood, a Q&A with Edina Kindergarten teachers, and a discussion with a Licensed Parent Educator on how to manage the emotions involved with a big transition.

As children develop, so do our parenting needs! Join our licensed parent educators for brief ‘Parenting Toolkit Express’ seminars aimed at growing your caregiver toolbox. Part workshop, part presentation, these seminars are designed to offer support and solidarity while sharing evidence-based information to broaden your parenting skill set. Tantrums and outbursts can be typical parts of early childhood, but can still leave parents and children feeling stressed or unmoored. This seminar will introduce evidence-based approaches for coaching your young child’s emotions before, during, and after a meltdown, tips for regulating yourself in the moment, and strategies for ‘going upstream’ to recognize meltdown potential.

As children develop, so do our parenting needs! Join our licensed parent educators for brief ‘Parenting Toolkit Express’ seminars aimed at growing your caregiver toolbox. Part workshop, part presentation, these seminars are designed to offer support and solidarity while sharing evidence-based information to broaden your parenting skill set. Come “nerd out” with us as we explore the brain science behind dysregulation. We’ll explore the biological basis for co-regulation, developmentally appropriate expectations for emotion management, and strategies for identifying and supporting dysregulation in our children.

Come to class and learn new parenting skills as your child grows from Elementary through High School years. Beyond ECFE Classes are taught by Licensed Parent Educators, meeting once per month. Group discussion allows parents to share their challenges, experience and wisdom. Topics are determined based on the interests of the class. Classes offered are: Parenting Elementary Students, Parenting Middle School Students, and Parenting High School Students. Parenting Elementary Students (Second Thursday of the month): Although they are sometimes referred to by academics as the “forgotten years”, middle childhood is jam-packed with change, challenges, and opportunities. No longer a preschooler, not yet a teen – but plenty of caregiving and parent-child connection is needed to nurture elementary schoolers’ identity development. Come build community with other parents tackling the same age range. Topics are flexible and will reflect group interests, but may include: supporting children in building and maintaining friendships, coaching emotional development, promoting healthy sibling relationships, balancing participation vs overscheduling, designing a well-balanced relationship with media, cultivating gratitude and resilience, addressing and preventing relational aggression, and more. Sibling Care is available during this class: https://earlylearning.edinaschools.org/learning/sibling-care

Come to class and learn new parenting skills as your child grows from Elementary through High School years. Beyond ECFE Classes are taught by Licensed Parent Educators, meeting once per month. Group discussion allows parents to share their challenges, experience and wisdom. Topics are determined based on the interests of the class. Classes offered are: Parenting Elementary Students, Parenting Middle School Students, and Parenting High School Students. Parenting High School Students (Second Wednesday of the month): Topics may include adolescent brain development, friendships and social dynamics, health & wellness, dating, emerging independence, positive discipline, parties and dances, technology and social media, college planning, time & money management, and drugs & alcohol. Topics are flexible and reflect the interest of the group. Sibling Care is available during this class: https://earlylearning.edinaschools.org/learning/sibling-care

Come to class and learn new parenting skills as your child grows from Elementary through High School years. Beyond ECFE Classes are taught by Licensed Parent Educators, meeting once per month. Group discussion allows parents to share their challenges, experience and wisdom. Topics are determined based on the interests of the class. Classes offered are: Parenting Elementary Students, Parenting Middle School Students, and Parenting High School Students. Parenting Middle School Students (Second Tuesday of the month): Topics may include friendships and social dynamics, personality and independence, behavior and discipline, back talk and rude behavior, building resilience, developing responsibility, self-confidence, body image, emotion coaching, balancing homework and activities, puberty, adolescent brain development, and technology and social media. Topics are flexible and will reflect the interests of the group. Sibling Care is available during this class: https://earlylearning.edinaschools.org/learning/sibling-care

Do you ever wonder what your toddler is thinking, or what they want and need? Support your little one in sharing their world with you by learning simple baby signs to help them communicate. In this parent-toddler play group with an emphasis on supporting language development, you and your toddler will learn gestures that can help ease frustration and improve communication – for both of you! You’ll learn signs for several settings: meal time, bed time, bath time, and more. After some child-led free play, we’ll spend our second half of class introducing 3-6 signs while playing, singing songs, and reading a story. Best for toddlers enjoying cruising and walking.

Learn how to support your little one’s communication and cognitive development using simple baby signs. In this parenting group with an emphasis on supporting language, each session will start with caregiver discussion, support, and community building. Then, as you and your baby play, caregivers will learn gestures that can help ease frustration, and improve communication – for both of you! Each meeting, we’ll learn and practice a handful of signs as we play, sing, do fingerplays, and read a story. You’ll leave our class with signs for several settings, like mealtime, bedtime, bath time, and more. Best for crawling or soon-to-be crawling babies.

Join other grandparents and their grandchildren in an atmosphere created just for toddlers. For ages birth-5 years. Sibling care is not available for this class.

Twos develop at high speed and thrive with guidance and limits as they set out to try everything in sight. Our classrooms are set up to allow children to engage all of their senses as they sing, dance, create, build, problem solve, communicate and socialize. Children gain confidence, trust, and independence as their parents separate for a facilitator led parenting time which focuses on parent generated topics including eating, toilet learning, separation anxiety, and language development as well as other relevant topics. Each class provides many opportunities for your child to develop social and problem solving skills while the two of you enjoy some uninterrupted high quality play and learning together time. You will also leave with new ideas and activities that reinforce the weekly classroom activities. A one-time registration fee of $50 applies. Parent Education Day is weekly on Tuesdays from 11am-12pm, we welcome caregivers to come as they are able. Sibling Care is available on the parent education day of this class: https://earlylearning.edinaschools.org/learning/sibling-care

Twos develop at high speed and thrive with guidance and limits as they set out to try everything in sight. Our classrooms are set up to allow children to engage all of their senses as they sing, dance, create, build, problem solve, communicate and socialize. Children gain confidence, trust, and independence as their parents separate for a facilitator led parenting time which focuses on parent generated topics including eating, toilet learning, separation anxiety, and language development as well as other relevant topics. Each class provides many opportunities for your child to develop social and problem solving skills while the two of you enjoy some uninterrupted high quality play and learning together time. You will also leave with new ideas and activities that reinforce the weekly classroom activities. A one-time registration fee of $50 applies. Parent Education Day is weekly on Wednesdays from 11am-12pm, we welcome caregivers to come as they are able. Sibling Care is available on the parent education day of this class: https://earlylearning.edinaschools.org/learning/sibling-care

Enjoy time with your toddler exploring the classroom, singing songs, participating in art activities, reading books and playing to learn. Parents separate for a portion of the class into another classroom with a licensed Parent Educator to discuss their child’s social, emotional and physical development while the children play with their teachers and classmates. For ages 18-24 months. Sibling Care is available during this class: https://earlylearning.edinaschools.org/learning/sibling-care ***Please note that for section 1824-1 there was misprint in our mailer. The class beings on 9/8, not 9/1.

For this season’s session (3 meetings), we’ll dive into Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents by Reid Wilson and Lynn Lyons, and learn hands-on strategies to promote our children’s confidence as they learn to manage worry and discomfort. Though most relevant for caregivers of elementary-aged children and beyond, we’ll ensure discussion offers tools for younger families, too.