Parenting Resources

for Small Wonders Age Birth – 1 Year Old

WELCOME LETTER TO PARENTS

Early Childhood Screening

Early childhood years from birth to start of kindergarten are an important time of rapid growth. Early Childhood Screening is a quick and simple check of how your child is growing and developing. It is required by the state of Minnesota to be completed before starting kindergarten, and it is a FREE service that usually takes about an hour to complete.

At your child's screening, a trained professional will check the following:

Vision AND hearing
Height and weight
Immunization review
Large and small muscles/motor skills
Thinking, language, and communication skills
Social and emotional development

To learn more and schedule your appointment, check out the district website at www.edenpr.org/ecscreening.

Family Literacy

In partnership with Metro South Adult Basic Education, Community Education has recently expanded options for parents in Eden Prairie who want to learn English or develop literacy skills! Over the 2018-2019 school year, we gathered information from parents, teachers, and community organizations and piloted a family literacy program that is responsive to families’ needs.

The center of our family literacy programming, the Family School program, offers English classes for adults, preschool for eligible 3 and 4 year olds, and a sibling classroom for younger children. Limited scholarships and transportation assistance are available for preschoolers on a first-come, first-serve basis; adult and infant/toddler programming is free.

To register for class or the wait list, visit the Family School page at edenprairie.ce.eleyo.com. For more information, contact Olivia Antilla, Outreach and Engagement Supervisor, at Olivia_Antilla@edenpr.k12.mn.us or 952-975-6968.

Family Resources

Eden Prairie Schools understands that every family needs help from time to time. Our community has a committed and compassionate group of service providers and nonprofits ready and willing to support families with a variety of needs. The goal of Community Education's Family Resources Program is to connect Eden Prairie students and families to resources in the community. The Family Resources Specialist can answer questions about what services are provided locally and by whom, facilitate connection to other organizations, and help navigate systems and advocate for families in need. Some examples of questions the Family Resources Program can assist with include:

Where can I find free or low-cost recreational opportunities for my child?
What transportation options exist for one-car families or those who don't drive?
How do I find local child care providers?
Where can I go if my family sometimes doesn't have enough food?
Are there any local networking or career counseling opportunities in Eden Prairie?
Who provides free or low-cost health care for the uninsured?

We are here to help! There are 5 ways to get started:

Call: To talk with someone about your needs, call the Family Resources Program at 952-975-6940 Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 4 pm.

Email: Connect with Reta Johnson, the Family Resources Specialist, at Reta_Johnson@edenpr.org.

Schedule an Appointment: Appointments are available by request. Contact Reta Johnson at Reta_Johnson@edenpr.org or 952-975-6940 to schedule a time to meet at a location convenient to you.

Visit Us: Visit face-to-face with Reta Johnson, the Family Resources Specialist. Simply stop by the Community Education Office in Lower Campus during business hours. Lower Campus is located at 8100 School Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344.

Submit a question or request assistance.

For 24/7 assistance, call United Way's 2-1-1 resource referral program by dialing 2-1-1 or (651) 291-0211.

Go to www.edenpr.org/FamilyResources or call our Family Resources Specialist at (952) 975-7030.

Health & Wellness

Eden Prairie Schools Early Childhood Health & Wellness

American Academy of Pediatrics

Keep Kids Healthy

Hennepin County (Going Green information)

Free eye screening (infantsee program)

Healthy Children.org

Find the safest sunscreen

Help Me Grow

Help Me Grow provides resources for families to understand developmental milestones and learn if there are concerns. This helps families take the lead in seeking additional support or referring their child for a comprehensive, confidential screening or evaluation at no cost.

Minnesota's Help Me Grow is an interagency initiative of the State of Minnesota Department of Education, Department of Health and Department of Human Services. We partner with all local service agencies. Minnesota's Help Me Grow has many resources about the development of young children for parents and professionals. These resources include information on developmental milestones, YouTube videos, caregiver strategies to support development, screening and evaluation, and how to talk about developmental concerns.

Learn more at http://helpmegrowmn.org/.