Hopkins Community Education

Meet and connect once a week with other parents and their toddlers to get your questions answered by our licensed parent educators in these ongoing ECFE classes.  This is the perfect way to meet other parents, learn from others, and discover what is right for you and your family with the guidance of a parent educator and research-based information.  Enjoy playing and learning with your toddler as you sing songs, read books, get your fingers into art, and more!

There is so much fun to be had as your child interacts with the world at ever-increasing levels!  Listen to the giggles as you and your toddler enjoy creative activities, sing songs, play with toys, explore new art forms, and more! Each week the licensed parent educator will lead discussions on topics you are most interested in, such as sharing, routines, temper tantrums, toilet learning, and child development,  

Listen to the giggles as you and your toddler enjoy creative activities, sing songs, play with toys, explore new art forms, and more! The parent educator will lead discussions on topics such as sharing, routines and rituals, temper tantrums, toilet learning, child development, and self-esteem.

It is so exciting to see your child exploring his growing independence!  In these once-a-week ECFE classes, you will have time with your child during the first portion of the class.  Then, you and your child will separate into different classrooms.  The preschool curriculum gives her opportunities with social skills, reading, art, stories, science, and more.  Your child will discover rich and varied learning stations that will engage him while developing school-readiness skills.Meanwhile, parents have the opportunity to develop strong connections with other parents.  You'll learn strategies to support your child’s readiness for kindergarten, and the licensed parent educator will lead discussions on your hot topics, such as sibling rivalry, healthy communication, setting limits, and more.

Enhance your child's brain development through stories, songs, sensory experiences, and play!. Enjoy reading/telling stories, singing songs, and doing sensory movement with your child. Join us for the fun!  Sibling care for older siblings through age 5 available; $5/child.

Kelly Shay, certified yoga instructor specializing in classes for adults, pregnant women, children, and families. Enhance playful interaction between you and your baby. Baby Yoga provides stretching and exercises to strengthen growing muscles, along with the benefits of touch and relaxation. Babies ages 6 weeks to 9 months are welcome.  Please bring a baby blanket and a yoga mat or towel. A limited number of yoga mats will be available for families who do not have one.

Parent & Child (2-3 Years Old) 12 Week Evening ClassesThe questions don’t stop just because you can’t come to a daytime class. Our evening classes use the same format as our daytime Child & Parents classes.2-3 Year Olds & Parents Parents will discuss topics such as sibling rivalry, your child’s temperament, healthy communication, setting limits, and more. 

The questions don’t stop just because you can’t come to a daytime class. Our evening classes use the same format as our daytime Child & Parents classes.  Join us for these classes created especially for families who prefer evening options.Evening Infants & Toddlers Playtime Classes, 12-Week ClassesHave fun engaging with your infant or toddler in a variety of activities. Learn songs and games to play together. A licensed parent educator will be available to answer all your questions."How is my baby's brain developing? Is she eating enough? When will he begin to sit up, roll over, crawl, talk?" The questions never end during this amazing time of development. Our non-separating evening classes, for parents and infants together, are held once a week. While you and your baby connect and play, a licensed parent educator leads discussion on topics such as infant growth and development, transition to parenthood, sleeping, nutrition, and how babies learn and play. Registration remains open for classes that have already started (when space is available). Please contact us for a pro-rated fee 952-988-5000.

Kara Quist, Pediatric Physical Therapist and Certified Infant Massage Instructor The loving touch of parents comforts and soothes infants and encourages bonding.  In addition, infant massage encourages deeper, longer sleep patterns in babies, enhances growing and healing, soothes fussiness and colic, and relieves the discomfort of reflux, teething, and gas. Babies newborn to crawling are welcome. Please bring a mat or blanket.

The questions never end during this amazing time of development!  Our licensed parent educators have the knowledge and experience to field all of your important questions. Meet once a week and connect with other parents and their infants to get your questions answered by our licensed parent educators.  This is the perfect way to meet other parents, learn from others, engage with your child, and discover what is right for you and your family when it comes to all those big questions.  Perfect for parents on maternity/paternity leave, sections #107 & #108 are short, 7-week sessions - sign up for one or both.

Join MacPhail Center for Music as we explore music and movement through play based engaging activities! Together we will sing, play and learn!Appropriate for ages birth – 8 years.

Join Kelly Shay, certified yoga instructor with advanced prenatal training. Preschoolers love to move - and yoga is a great way to harness all that energy! Through storytelling, developmental movement, breathing exercises, and body awareness, preschoolers will gain self-regulation strategies and increase strength, flexibility, and coordination. A space for the imagination to soar and the inner spirit to shine!

We have the cure for the winter wiggles!  Saturday Family Open Gym gives parents and children a place to move, play, and have dynamic adventures together.  Experience a variety of fun and energetic activities to help develop fine and gross motor skills, plus encourage social skills.   The entire class is devoted to parent-child activities in the gym and classroom, with time at the end for music and songs.  You can attend any or all of the Family Open Gym sessions.  Registration for individual classes must be made 24 hours prior to the date. Sibling care is not available for Saturday classes.Two choices are available for registrations:1) Register for the entire series. Cost includes a special rate of $25 for the entire 6-week series. 2) Register for individual classes only $5.00/class/per family.  Register for either of these options online or by calling 952-988-5000. If registering by phone for individual classes please bring exact change, or a check payable to: ISD # 270, to the classroom to cover the cost.

Our same great ECFE format for native Spanish speakers. Explore the classroom, sing songs, read books, create art, and more!  Connect with other Spanish or Somali parents on topics such as discipline, nutrition, the importance of play, and language development.  These classes are grant funded and offered at no cost.  A Spanish interpreter participates in the Spanish class.  These classes are for Hopkins School District families. Spanish language class is listed as 412.

Engage in a fun-filled playtime with your child!  Family Stay & Play is for you!  Attend any or all of these fun-filled sessions. Each 4 or 5 week session has a different exciting theme:Book Bonanza: Bringing beloved books to life through art exploration and activities.Planting a Rainbow: How does our garden grow? Explore springtime themes through planting seeds, water activities, and colorful art projects based on rainbows and flowers.The Very Quiet Cricket and other insect friends: Explore the world of insects and what they like to do. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Registration for individual classes can be made the week prior to the date by calling 952-988-5000. Two choices are available for registrations:   1) Register for the entire series. 8 spaces available. 2) Register for individual classes only. Please bring check payable to: ISD #270 or exact dollar amount to each session. 

Kelly Shay, certified yoga instructor specializing in classes for adults, pregnant women, children and families.  What better way to exert that lively toddler energy in a class filled with breathing, singing, and movement! We will use musical instruments for little hands and yoga as our foundation while being able to socialize with other toddlers and caregivers. Appropriate for toddlers crawling to 36 months. Please bring a yoga mat or towel.  A limited number of yoga mats will be available if you do not have one.