NOW OPEN: EFC SOUTHWEST MINNEAPOLIS!
Our 2018 Photo Album highlights some of the many wonderful moments that took place at Especially for Children this year! It is amazing to stop and think about how much your child has changed and grown in just one year. We are thankful that you...
It has been a wonderful year at Especially for Children, and we want to thank you again for choosing our program. We've gathered together some of the special moments of learning and fun from across EFC centers in a photo slide show. Check it out, and...
At our professional development day in September, we honored our long-term teaching staff and directors. We are so grateful for their dedication to children, families, and our organization. ...
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...
Anna Wilson, co-director at Especially for Children Edina/Edinborough was recently featured in MN Parent magazine. Read her tips on how to have a successful school drop-off with your child. ...
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...
The gardens at our schools are transforming before our eyes. It has been a wonderful experience for the children to plant, water, weed, observe, cook and taste! We've had some special visitors in our gardens including many bugs and even some baby bunnies! Check out...
If you need some inspiration to get the family moving this winter, check out this fun video of a toddler breakdancing with his dad. What a fun way to spend a cold afternoon! ...
Spring is a time for observing and enjoying the budding life around us. Gardening is a wonderful way for children to learn new skills, develop an appreciation for the environment and even expand their food horizons. Check out the video and the links below for...
April 12-18 is the Week of the Young Child. (Though as parents, it likely feels that every week is the week of your child(ren)! :)) In celebration of our youngest learners, NAEYC has compiled some great activities for families. Below is a sample: Eight tips for...
With September being "Back to School" month, we thought it would be a great time to revisit some of the resources on our website about school readiness. You can find Minnesota's Kindergarten Entry Developmental Checklist here. It covers the following developmental areas:Personal and Social DevelopmentLanguage...
Here are some great activities to get children of all ages moving (Courtesy of Deb Lund, Occupational Therapist from the Hopkins School District). Push and Pull Activities Push Toys (toy shopping carts, baby strollers, trucks)Push a cart or box (filled with toys or books) across the...
The toy aisles of your nearest box store offer hundreds of options for your child's entertainment and learning. But since 1998, only 53 toys have made it into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Many of the toys are simple in construction (e.g. ball, blanket,...
At our company-wide in-service training last Friday we had a session on Intentional Teaching. As I listened to Sharon Bergen present, I thought about the many...