Certified parent educators from the Winona Early Childhood Home Education Program have launched a newsletter celebrating the program’s 50th anniversary in Minnesota.
“May We Hold Space For You” is a bimonthly e-newsletter featuring parenting tips, resources, and community commonly found in Winona ECFE programs.
“There are many parts of this job that I am grateful for, but my favorite part is watching caregivers build relationships with other families and, in turn, develop better relationships with their children. ” said Heather Millard, ECFE Coordinator and parent educator for 16 years. .
ECFE started in Winona in 1980 as the Central Parent Program and moved under the Community Education umbrella in 1984. We offer parent classes and discussion groups to enrich classroom learning through at-home play opportunities with young children from birth through third grade. visit. It is based on the idea that families provide a child’s first and most important learning environment and that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher.
“I had never heard of ECFE until I attended a ‘Baby and Me’ class as a parent 14 years ago,” said Linnea Pfohl, Winona ECFE parent educator. “I have been in the Goodview Parent Education Office in one capacity or another ever since. From parents who found great value, lifelong friends, and community at ECFE, to parent educators who help foster those same connections in new families. I’m grateful that things have changed.”
ECFE classes consist of three components: parent-child interaction, children’s programming, and parent discussion. This newsletter contains some starting points for conversations in the parent discussion portion of ECFE classes, including links to helpful podcasts, articles, and videos.
The title of the newsletter is a nod to the start of parent discussion time. Parent educators typically ask questions such as, “Can I hold your space today?” This is as a way to reach out to each parent in the room and see if any of them have parenting issues that they need help with.
According to Psychology Today, “holding space” is the practice of creating space for someone’s experiences and centering them. Holding space requires being fully present and creating a safe environment. Once the situation is created, holding space encourages listening and empathy.
In that spirit, “May We Hold Space For You?” We welcome more people to the Winona ECFE community, share the roller coaster of emotions that come with raising a family, and share tips, resources, and a variety of ECFE programs and classes. seen as a way to provide support and guidance through an invitation to. It is open to the public.
To view our newsletter or sign up for our mailing list, please visit waps.pub/winonaecfe.
