EFC Parent Blog

Creating appropriate limits for children in this consumer-driven, digital age can be a challenge. We've come across a few resources in recent weeks that might help you navigate where to draw boundaries and provide more information from child development experts around these choices. If you...

Among the other wonderful opportunities that warmer weather brings is the chance for children to bring their art projects outside. Creating art in the outdoors allows children more space for their materials as well as the chance to get a bit messy. Outdoor elements such...

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ~ Native American Proverb April 22 is Earth Day. It is a great day to talk with your child about taking care of our earth. We've gathered a few Earth Day resources...

As we wrote in this month's Especially for Parents article, you don't need fancy materials to create indoor fun at home. Sometimes, though, it does the body and mind good to get out of the house and move your muscles. When the weather isn't cooperating for...

What a year it was! We celebrated our 40th Anniversary, had visits from firefighters and Santa Claus, explored apple orchards and animal farms, grew fruits and veggies in our gardens, learned Spanish and enjoyed music, movement and dance, and so much more. Most importantly, we learned...

In our Especially for Parents article for December we discussed the importance of fine motor skills for young children. This Community Playthings article provides some great information on the topic, including the activities listed below that you can try at home. In addition, here is our...

As a follow-up to our Especially for Parents article on cultivating empathy in your child, check out the video below from Sesame Street with Murray and Mark Ruffalo. Have you found effective ways of explaining or modeling empathy to your child? We'd love to hear...

These amazing directors have been with Especially for Children for over 20 years! We are incredibly grateful for their hard work, dedication to children and families, senses of humor, commitment to the staff at their centers and so much more. Read a bit more about (pictured from...

Sue Smith has worked for Especially for Children - Edina/Edinborough since August of 1987, making her the teacher with the second-longest tenure in the company! Tell us a bit about yourself… My husband Steve and I celebrated our 40th anniversary this year! We have lived in Edina for many years...