Early Childhood Family Education | ECFE

Our ECFE staff and families are enjoying our fall classes. Supporting early childhood development and parenting is our passion, and the health and safety of your family is still a priority. We invite you to join our ECFE family as we share and learn together. Our winter 2022 catalog will be in the mail around November 5. You can view the catalog here. Online registration is now available.

Connections Preschool

COVID-19 Daily Screening Tool
English | Somali | Spanish

ECFE is a program for parents and their children during the years from birth through pre-kindergarten. Our mission is to provide quality learning opportunities and resources for all young families in our district. ECFE is a fun, informal place to meet, learn and play with other parents and young children. We offer a wide variety of classes, one-time events, a family literacy program and several special opportunities.

One-Time Events (Fall)

One-Time Events (Fall)

family playtimes

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 playdough. Run, jump, climb and learn through movement in our gym. No pre-registration needed. Online registration opens a week in advance.

Option 1 for ages birth-prekindergarten: Mondays | Sep 13 to Dec 20 | 1:30-3:30 p.m. | DVLC room 215 | $5 per child.
Option 2 for ages birth-7 years: Saturdays | Sep 11 to Dec 18 | 9:00-11:00 a.m. | skip Oct 9, 23; Nov 6, 27; Dec 4 | DVLC room 116 | $5 per child.

Baby Playtime

This is a time for babies and parents to play in our infant environment. Come explore new toys, sing songs or enjoy other fun activities led by an ECFE teacher. There will also be time to meet other parents and their babies. For ages birth through 12 months. No pre-registration needed.

Wednesdays | Sep 15-Dec 22 | 1:45-3:00 p.m. | DVLC room 216 | Free.

Preschools playing in the backyard at DVLC

fantastic fridays

Come explore our backyard natural play space. Build a stick fort, hop on some stepping stones and listen to a story while seated on a tree stump. Children will engage all their senses. We will have access to a classroom and gym space in case of inclement weather. For ages birth through kindergarten. Online registration opens a week in advance.

mama cafe breastfeeding support group

A one-hour drop-in group for any mother who is nursing, pumping or combination feeding a baby. Receive free lactation counseling around common breastfeeding issues by our certified lactation counselor and licensed parent educator who has 17 years of experience supporting breastfeeding mothers and their families. No pre-registration needed.

CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Additional Resources

COVID-19 Information

Update 8/30/21: Face masks are required indoors in all District 196 buildings for anyone age 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status. Our early childhood staff will work with families to support our youngest learners in wearing a mask as they are able.

Read the 2021-2022 COVID-19 Operational Plan for Students, Families and Visitors to School and help us achieve our goal of keeping students learning at school all year. You can also read Superintendent Mary Kreger's August 27th message to families.

COVID Daily Check List for ECFE Families: English | Somali | Spanish

District 196 COVID Dashboard

Parenting Resources

District 196 Information

Early Childhood Screening - Silver Bell Learning Center, 2120 Silver Bell Rd., Eagan, MN. Call 651-423-7899.

Early Childhood Special Education - For information on evaluations and early intervention. Call 952-388-1900.

Kindergarten and Magnet Schools - General information for incoming kindergarten families. Or go directly to kindergarten enrollment to start the pre-enrollment process.

New Baby - Do you have a new baby? Are you new to town? If so, please contact Student Information Services at 651-423-7640 with your family’s updated information so you receive important program information and updates.

School Attendance Locator

Activity Ideas

Favorite Links

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning at Vanderbilt University
Common Sense Media
Conscious Discipline
The Ellyn Satter Institute - Models for Feeding Dynamics and Eating Competence
Head Start (CAP of Scott, Carver & Dakota Counties) - accepting applications for the 2021-2022 school year
Healthy Children - American Academy of Pediatrics
Help Me Grow Minnesota
Kids in the House
Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, Ed.D.
Mom Enough
Pacer Center - Champions for Children with Disabilities
ParentAware - Tools and information to find quality childcare and early education
Parenting Counts
PBS Parent Resources
Positive Discipline
Simplicity Parenting
Zero to Three

ECFS Advisory Council

Join Us

The ECFS (Early Childhood Family Services) Parent Advisory Council supports Early Childhood programming within District 196. This programming includes Early Childhood Family Education, Connections Preschool and Family School. The Parent Advisory Council is a highly valued resource for District 196 ECFS and assists in the development, planning and monitoring of Early Childhood Family Education programs within the District. Parents involved in any District 196 Early Childhood programs are welcome to join.

Meetings are held from 7:15-8:15pm via Zoom on the third Tuesday of every month during the school year. New members are always welcome. This is a wonderful opportunity to enhance the programs and make connections with other parents. For more information, please click here and a staff member will be in touch with you. We look forward to meeting you!

Family School

Parents learn with your child!

Family School, a literacy program for English language learners, has four important parts:

a preschool program for children ages three or four
time for parents and children to play and learn together
parent education and adult education

Parents and their preschool children can attend school together Monday through Thursday mornings at District 196 learning centers in Apple Valley. Families must be District 196 residents, have preschool children, and a goal in Adult Basic Education as an English learner (EL) or GED student.

Find Out More

Meet Our Teachers

Parent Aware 4-Star Rating

State of MN ECFE Overview

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) recognizes that parents are their child’s first and most important teachers. ECFE offers parents hands-on learning experiences that will nourish a lifetime of teachable moments.

All ECFE classes are taught by licensed early childhood teachers and parent educators to provide the quality education parents are looking for. ECFE teachers use the Parent Education Core Curriculum Framework and Early Childhood Indicators of Progress: Minnesota’s Early Learning Standards provided through the Minnesota Department of Education.

Click here to open a printable brochure about ECFE

Connect with ECFE on Facebook

Contact ECFE

Dakota Valley Learning Center (DVLC)
office 952-388-1953
email ecfe@district196.org
address 4679 144th St. W., Apple Valley, MN 55124

Cedar Valley Learning Center (CVLC)
address 14420 Glenda Dr., Apple Valley, MN 55124

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