Building Your Child's Brain

Did you know that South Washington County ECFE offers online parent education classes? Our 6-week online class offers a unique mix of in-person and online learning. Families participating in the this class join us in-person for parent and child activities on the first and last evenings of the class. During the four weeks in between, all learning happens online. Parents join one of our parent educators for a weekly chat on Thursdays at 8:15 pm-9 pm. Each week, materials are posted to the online class page for parents to check out when it is convenient for them. 

Starting on Thursday, February 22nd, our newest online class, Building Your Child's Brain, will begin. One thing that is frequently heard about brain development is that 90% of brain development occurs during the first 5 years of life. While it is important for parents to know this information, it can be a little daunting when we think about ways to help support and encourage brain development. The goal of this course is provide parents with information and practical tips and activities that will assist them in supporting and encouraging their child's brain development.

Each week we will explore a different focus in the area of brain development. The schedule of the class will be as follows:

• Week 1-In-Person at the District Program Center (DPC) in Cottage Grove at 6pm-7:30pm. We will spend some time getting to know one another, enjoy parent-child activities and get an overview of the online class site. 
• Week 2 Online-Movement and Brain Development. Explore why movement is so important to brain development. 
• Week 3 Online-Play and Brain Development. Play is how young children learn. Parents will learn more about how and why play is a key to brain development. 
• Week 4 Online-Technology and Brain Development. Technology is so prevalent in our lives today. Learn more about how technology impacts brain development. 
• Week 5 Online-Parent-Child Interactions and Brain Development. Learn more about how parent-child relationships, including discipline, impacts brain development. 
• Week 6-In-Person at the DPC in Cottage Grove at 6pm-7:30pm. We will enjoy some more parent-child activity and have time to recap and answer any remaining questions from the class.  

We hope you will join us for this class. The cost for this class is $30. Registration available at South Washington County ECFE.