Minnetonka Community Education

Birth-12 months/Non-separating Meet other parents and enjoy time with your new baby! Spend the entire class together, engaged in sensory and movement activities and a licensed educator-led discussion. Learn about your baby’s growth and development, how to develop healthy eating and sleeping habits and what research tells us about your baby’s important first experiences. If you are on maternity/paternity leave for a limited time and only able to attend a few classes, let us know and we will prorate your fee. Expecting a new baby after Sept. 1, 2019? We will start a midyear class based upon your child’s age as of Jan.1, 2020. Prorated fees apply.

Birth-Prekindergarten Welcome to this free, monthly opportunity to connect with other parents of young children and play in a space specifically designed for little ones. You do not have to be enrolled in a class to participate, however advanced registration is required.

6-12 months/Non-separating As your baby grows, you encounter a world of new experiences and milestones together. Start your morning by connecting with others who are experiencing the joys and challenges of parenting older infants.

18-24 months | gradually-separating At 18-24 months, your curious toddler is exploring their environment in several ways and adding new words to their spoken vocabulary every day! Learn ways to interact with your child through fun activities and share about your experience with this new stage of independence in an educator-led discussion.

Early Childhood Screening is required by the State of Minnesota for all preschool-aged children (ages three to five), before entering public school. It is a free and simple check on how your child is growing and developing, and is structured to include fun games that will assess multiple areas of your child’s health and development, including: Vision, hearing and physical growth Health and immunization history Social and emotional development Fine and gross motor ability Cognitive development Speech, language and articulation Screening supports your child’s readiness for kindergarten and promotes positive developmental outcomes. Screening may also lead to referrals for early learning opportunities. Note: Although Early Childhood Screening is required for entrance in Minnesota’s public schools (or within 30 days of enrollment into kindergarten), screening is not a kindergarten entrance test. For more information, view the Minnesota Statute here. Minnetonka Early Childhood Screening takes place at: 18707 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka, MN 55345 (Directions: Hwy. 7 to Vine Hill Road (go north). Take first right turn onto Excelsior Blvd. (by Midas Auto Shop). Location is 1/4 mile on right (next to Sunrise Senior Living Center.) IMPORTANT ONLINE REGISTRATION NOTES: There are 2 STEPS to completing your online registration. After completing the registration questions 1). Select "Enroll," and then on the next page, 2.) Click on the Shopping Basket to Select "Check Out for $0." You must complete both steps. When online registration is successful, you will receive a confirmation email with the appointment date and time, plus a reminder email two days before the appointment. ** If you do not receive the initial confirmation email, please call Sue Ryan, at (952) 401-6840, to ensure your child's online registration has been received. We do not have space to accommodate walk-in appointments.

24-36 months/Separating Between the ages of two and three your child is a mover and shaker in a world full of wonder and discovery. Explore this world with them and gather for a discussion with other parents experiencing life with a toddler who is talking, becoming independent and challenging rules with a new found confidence.

Birth-4 years | separating Meet other parents of multiples and share joys and challenges, while finding the information and support that you need. Gain ideas for managing sleep, discipline, toileting, eating and more through parent discussion. Please register each child individually.

1-5 years/Separating Night Owls is a great way to reconnect with your child(ren) after a long day. Join other families for fun activities, followed by an educator-led discussion. Conversation topics range from behavior strategies to eating and sleeping routines. There will be no class on November 5, 2019 (General Election Night) or February 4, 2020 (Caucus Night)

Minnetonka Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) and Helping Us Grow (HUG) invites you and your family to join us for a free snack and story time for the kids! Your family will have a chance to visit with other parents with small children (birth-36 months), play in the classroom, and enjoy stories and songs together. Older siblings are welcome. A light snack will be served for parents and children, and each family will go home with a free book for their home library!

18 months-Prekindergarten Turn your fall and winter Wednesdays and Saturdays into family fun time. Our open gym time allows for you to play with your child, while they burn energy. Spend time running, climbing, throwing and riding. Wear comfortable shoes. Wednesdays 4-5 p.m. and Saturdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. $3 per child/$5 per family. Space is limited to 35 children. Registration is required. No refunds will be issued for cancellations or non-attendance. Fees are non-transferable and cannot be applied to another Open Gym day.

1-5 years | separating A Saturday morning learning adventure! Enjoy time playing and learning together through activities designed for you and your child. Boost your parenting skills through parent discussion while children interact with their peers and teachers.

3-5 years non-separating Enjoy these fun and interactive classes with your child! The fee is $19 per class, per child- or register for all six classes at once and notify Denise Nelson at denise.nelson@minnetonkaschools.org and I will prorate your fees to $99 per child. All classes are held from 6:00-7:15 pm. Sibling care is not available. Bugs! Friend or Foe? Learn about the helpful characteristics of insects and arachnids. Create bug themed art including spider webs, ant prints and lady bug rock painting. Pine Cone Picassos Create art projects using pine cones and pine needles. Try pine needle painting, pine cone prints, and create a nature shadow box. B is for Bubbles Relive bubble fun through the hands and eyes of your child. Enjoy rainbow bubbles, bubble prints, and bubble wands. Doodads, Thingamabobs and Whatchamacallits Explore a variety of ways to express yourself with paint and use silly things to do art! Explore drip painting with eye droppers, string art and design, and even painting with plungers. Rainy Day Refractions April showers bring beautiful rainbows. Create rainbows from hand prints, sponges and more! Flower Power Design your own tissue paper flowers, experience bottle flower painting and more.

PLEASE NOTE: Science Discovery class titles and descriptions were published incorrectly in the catalog, these are the correct titles and descriptions for 2019-2020. 3-5 years | non-separating Explore fun science topics with your child during these afternoon or evening parent + child classes! All classes align with elementary life science, earth science, physical science and/or nature of science and engineering standards. The fee is $19 per class, per child−or register for all six classes at once for $99 per child. All afternoon classes are held from 1:15-2:30 p.m. and all evening classes are held from 6:15-7:30 p.m. Sibling care is not available. Light and Shadow's How are shadows made? Come and engage your mind with the amazing process of understanding how light and shadows work together. Ramp It Up Do you like roller coasters? Are you curious about how they work? Come experiment with tubes, marbles, balls, ramps and your imagination to make your own roller coaster! Under the Sea What do whales and humans have in common? What's the difference between saltwater and freshwater? How do whales filter their food? Come help us design a filter fit for a sea creature! Five Senses We learn through our senses. Join us for all kinds of hands-on experiments to help us learn more about our senses. We will design and make something that invites all our senses to work together! What is Exoskelton What do ants and praying mantises have in common? Come to class to find out! Space 5-4-3-2-1-blastoff! We'll design and build our own rocket ships and experience space like never before.