Come learn and play with your emerging little person! Learn about activities that hold a toddler's attention and help your child's development. Parent discussions include topics such as making separation easier, child-proofing your home, and your child's growing interests and need for independence.

Two is the perfect age for you and your little one to be in a parent-child class! Your two-year-old benefits from learning to be around others, and you benefit from support and information that help you nurture a child of this challenging age. This class is a great way to begin to expose your child to new situations and for you to meet other parents. Come and have fun with your child while you grow as a parent! Parents separate from children for parent discussion time.

Your little one will learn through playing with others and enjoying new activities, sights and sounds. You will both enjoy time in the specially designed children's space and get ideas for some great activities you can do at home. Parents will separate for parent discussion time. This class is for children who will be age 20-30 months on the first day of class.

Active and curious, children in this age group are brimming with excitement and questions about their environment. Join other families for fun sessions filled with play, songs, sensory activities, and gym activities arranged by an early childhood teacher. Your child will love the one-on-one attention during the parent-child interaction time. Parents will share ideas and concerns and learn about new resources during the parent discussion time, which will be facilitated by a parent educator.

Active and curious, children in this age group are brimming with excitement and questions about their environment. Join other families for a fun class filled with songs, play and stories arranged by an early childhood teacher. Parents will share ideas and concerns and learn of new resources during parent discussion time, which will be facilitated by a parent educator.

We invite you to join our book club discussion of Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy. In her book, Dr. Kennedy offers insights into raising emotionally resilient, secure, connected, and confident children. We will discuss strategies for handling tantrums, emotional regulation, sibling conflicts, bedtime battles, not listening, and power struggles. Dr. Becky Kennedy offers step-by-step guidance on how to establish clear boundaries for your child with empathy and understanding. While you are in the Early Childhood Classroom, you will get to play and learn with your child. Together, you will discover new activities, art projects, play at the sensory table, sing songs during circle time, and then practice separating from your child for parenting discussion time based on the book.

Join us for a brand-new ECFE experience—ECFE in the Park! This unique class blends community connection, outdoor play-based learning, and classroom connection over 14 weeks. For the first 8 weeks, we’ll meet at a community park in our school district for play dates designed to encourage exploration, creativity, and social connection. Families will experience nature-based activities that inspire curiosity and support early childhood development through outdoor play. Children will learn and grow in a welcoming, relaxed outdoor environment while caregivers build supportive relationships with one another. The park locations will be listed in the class confirmation once you register. In the final 6 weeks of the semester, we’ll gather at Pilot Knob Elementary to dive deeper into the importance of nature-based play in early childhood. Together, we’ll discuss how outdoor learning supports physical development, social-emotional growth, problem-solving skills, and overall well-being—and explore simple ways to incorporate nature-based activities into everyday family life. Come to connect, play, and grow with us outdoors and beyond!

An fun outdoor experience for children ages 3-5 years and a parent/relative. Please email jamette.iovino@isd197.org about younger siblings. Join us for PK Outdoor Play, a brand-new ECFE class designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection through meaningful outdoor experiences. Inspired by the natural beauty of PK learning spaces, this class invites families to explore, discover, and grow together in nature. Come dressed for the weather—we’ll be outside! Each session may include hands-on activities in our garden, nature hikes, playground exploration, and story time in the PK outdoor nature learning area. Children will splash in puddles, plant in the garden, search for woodland treasures during scavenger hunts, and engage in open-ended play that nurtures imagination and confidence. Nature-based play supports social-emotional growth, problem-solving skills, physical development, and overall well-being. Most importantly, it gives children the freedom to explore the world around them with wonder and joy. Breathe the fresh air, embrace a little mud, and experience the many benefits of learning and playing outdoors. We can’t wait to explore with you!