Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) - District 196 Community Education

Skip to content

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

Course Category

Show All

About Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

ECFE offers a variety of classes, all designed to help strengthen families through interactive play and relevant, research-based parent education. We invite you to join our ECFE family as we share and learn together.

A typical ECFE class includes:

Parent-Child Interaction - Time where parent and child together enjoy a classroom filled with developmentally appropriate learning activities.
Parent Education - Provides relevant, effective education and support that encourages a healthy environment for the growth and development of families.
Children’s Activity Time - During parent education time, children explore, gain independence and practice social skills while under the supervision of a licensed children’s teacher.

Additional Information:

Our class fees are based on your family annual income and determined by a sliding fee scale. District 196 residents are encouraged to register regardless of their ability to pay. Babies nine weeks or younger are not counted as a second child when determining class fee.

Fall session is September 3 through December 18. Registration is open through September 17.

Out of district families: Registration opens August 25, the week before classes begin.

Babies: Birth through 11 Months

Extended Age Groups

Parents and Ones

Parents and Twos

Topic Classes (mixed ages)

Featured Courses

Family Playtimes
Playtimes

One-Time Event for parents with children ages birth through prekindergarten. Pop in to play with your little ones and our ECFE staff. Dress up for dramatic play. Explore the wonders of math, science and senses while you squish, squeeze and create with play dough. Dump, pour, mash and mix in the sensory table. Become a little artist at the easel. Run, jump, climb and learn through movement in our gym. Expand language skills at story and circle time. Register weekly to attend. *** PLEASE NOTE THE DATE YOU ARE REGISTERING FOR ***

Parents and Ones: Non-Separating
Parents and Ones

Parents With Toddlers Ages 12-24 Months. Prekindergarten Siblings Welcome. Non-Separating Are you looking for a fun class for your one-year-old? Join other parents and toddlers for a morning, afternoon or an evening class. Toddlers love to take off and explore if their parents are close by. The parent discussion will take place in the children's room, where toddlers can check in with their parents if they need to. Please register all prekindergarten children who will be attending the class.

Wide-Open Spaces
Preschoolers

Parents with Children Ages 3-Prekindergarten. Prekindergarten Siblings Welcome. Separating In this outdoor class, parents and children will interact with the natural environment and experience all the benefits of the great outdoors. A growing body of research links our mental, physical and spiritual health directly to our association with nature. Our backyard has woods to play in, a rock river, grass and hills to run and roll, an outdoor easel and xylophones and a spacious playground. We will go on at least two local field trips to discover our community’s natural spaces. Common parenting topics of the group’s choosing will also be explored in the parent group. Please register all prekindergarten children who will be attending class. This class will primarily be held outside.

Dad and Me
Extended Age Groups

Parents With Children Ages Birth-6 Years Separating Fathers of all types have an important relationship with their children that is instrumental in their development. Join together in a community of men to learn, share and play while building a support system rooted in fatherhood. This group will focus on quality time with our kids, including gym time. Relaxed discussions about parenting and what it means to be a dad are included. Bring your experiences as a father, or father figure, to share with the group and take home new tips and ideas from both other dads and our parenting educator. Your children will make new friends and learn skills with the guidance of our early childhood teachers.

Conscious Discipline
Extended Age Groups

Parents With Children Ages Birth Through 6 Years Separating Children’s brains are changing every day and it can be hard to keep up with all the new behaviors that can push our buttons. You will learn how brain state affects how we as parents approach our children’s behavior. Conflict can be an opportunity to teach and learn. This class will explore the two parts of discipline: the health of the relationship and the skill set involved. You will walk away with new insights about your child and yourself as well as strategies to try immediately.

View All Courses in Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)