By Marijean Storlie, ECFE/EC Screening Coordinator
E.C.F.E. stands for Early Childhood Family Education and is a public school program offered to all Minnesota families with children between the ages of birth and Kindergarten entry. Hutchinson’s E.C.F.E. program is located between West Elementary and Hutchinson High School in the “little brown building”.
E.C.F.E.’s model supports and strengthens families by providing educational classes, home visits, family events, field trips and other special events for parents and their children.
E.C.F.E programs include parent/child interaction time, early childhood education and parent education opportunities – all based on best practices for children and parents. E.C.F.E. classes are taught by licensed teachers who have degrees in early childhood education and or parent education.
Brain research confirms that the early years are an extremely critical time in a child’s development. By offering a variety of opportunities for parents and children to grow and learn together, E.C.F.E. classes support a child’s development socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually.
E.C.F.E. is also able to support a family’s first positive connection with the public school system, which in turn creates a smoother transition to kindergarten and the K-12 system for both the child and his/her parents. E.C.F.E. provides this connection by engaging families and encouraging parents to become involved in their child’s learning from birth on.
Other benefits that ECFE provides to families include: support, focused time for parent and child, a home environment, positive adult/child interactions, familiarity in the community, positive connections, encouragement, and social interactions.
Research confirms that children, whose parents are involved in their early learning years, are more successful in school. E.C.F.E. is eager and ready to support you and your child during his/her early years.
Call Hutchinson E.C.F.E. today at 320-587-8908 for more information or to enroll in one of our many available program opportunities.
