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Parent Workshops
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About Parent Workshops

Welcome to Minnetonka Public Schools Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE). Here, you can explore new experiences, meet other families, and grow and learn together with your child. Parent workshops differ from ECFE classes in that there is no child and parent time. 

Featured Courses

Elevate Your Parenting: Proven Strategies for Success
Parent Workshops

Our parent-only workshops are designed to provide you with the tools, knowledge, and support you need to navigate the complexities of parenting. Each workshop focuses on utilizing evidence-based resources to provide you with valuable insights and applicable strategies. Engage in meaningful discussions with fellow parents, learn from a licensed parent educator, and gain the confidence to implement effective parenting techniques. Join us for an enriching experience that will empower you to create a positive and nurturing environment for your family. Enrollment in this course includes lunch bunch for your preschooler. Title Description Dates Positive Solutions for Families Based on the research-based practices utilized in the social and emotional learning framework, the Pyramid Model, families will learn how to support your child's social and emotional skills and development, understand the why behind challenging behaviors and discover positive parenting approaches to help children learn appropriate behavior. Sept. 17 - Nov. 19 The Way of Play The Way of Play helps parents to nurture calm listeners, cooperative problems solvers, and respectful communicators. "Kids often want parents to play with them, but many parents don't know how to play or see it only as an (often boring) way to kill time." Learn how to lean into playfulness to create moments of connection in the everyday activities of raising a family. Jan. 7 - March 11 Good Inside This class, inspired by Dr. Becky Kennedy's acclaimed book "Good Inside," offers a transformative approach to parenting. Dr. Kennedy shifts the focus from merely shaping children's behavior to cultivating the essential skills needed to raise kind, resilient, and well-rounded individuals. April 8 - June 10
2025-2026 ECFE/Parent Workshops ECFE

Preparing for the Transition to Kindergarten
Parent Workshops

Going to kindergarten is a milestone event for every child and family. You and your child may have a variety of emotions, including excitement, anticipation, and worry about the unknown. The good news is parents and caregivers can help prepare their child for the transition to kindergarten. In this workshop, we will discuss strategies for strengthening your child’s skills, developing routines and strategies for a successful start to school.
Summer ECFE 2025
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It's Complicated: Teens, Technology and Mental Health - with Erin Walsh
Parent Workshops

For families with children 10 - 16 years of age Social media and technology can be a lifeline for connection and learning, yet it’s no secret that today’s young people are also facing unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety. So, how do screens factor into the mix? In this engaging, interactive workshop, Erin Walsh blends brain science, real-world stories, and humor to unravel the complex relationship between technology and teen mental health. You'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how technology shapes your child’s social world, identity, and emotional wellbeing. Most importantly, Erin will equip you with practical tools and strategies to help your middle schooler thrive in a digital age. We will cover: How does social media impact mental health? Is technology helping teens connect or leaving them isolated? How much screen time is too much? What is the best age for a cell phone ? What is the number one thing middle schoolers need from adults to reduce digital risk taking? Meet Erin Walsh, M.A. Erin is a parent, speaker, author, and co-founder of Spark & Stitch Institute, an organization dedicated to helping families and communities foster deeper connections and navigate the challenges of raising resilient kids in the modern world. She hosts the Connected & Courageous podcast and her work has been featured in top publications like The Washington Post, Parents.com, and the Star Tribune. Erin co-authored the Tenth Anniversary Edition of the national bestseller Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen, and her latest book, It’s Their World: Teens, Screens, and the Science of Adolescence, is set to launch in May 2025.
2024-2025 ECFE/Parent Workshops ECFE
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1000 Hours Outside
Parent Workshops

Free Workshop for Families and Caregivers Learn how to get back to a healthier, more engaging relationship with the world outside. With a mom's heart and an educator's eye, Ginny shows you: the importance of unstructured play for children what boredom actually contributes to our brains the value of sunlight and social play the role of play in lifelong learning If you want your kids to grow up curious, resilient, and with a sense of adventure and community, it's essential to make outside play a priority. Ginny Yurich is a Michigan mother of five and the founder and CEO of 1000 Hours Outside; a global movement, media company and lifestyle brand with a mission centered around reclaiming childhood, reconnecting families and helping people live a fuller life. She is the host and producer of the extremely popular The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, a keynote public speaker, zinnia enthusiast, and published author. Her latest best-selling book, ‘Until The Streetlights Come On’, (Baker Books) was released in November 2023. Holding a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Michigan, Ginny and her husband, Josh have been married for over 21 years and are lifelong Michiganders. They love raising their five children on their little hobby farm in “The Great Lakes State.”
2024-2025 ECFE/Parent Workshops ECFE
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