Meet new friends or connect with those you already know as you explore our outdoor play spaces with your baby or toddler. For babies, you will get some tummy time ideas and see how to set up the environment to encourage rolling, sitting, and crawling. Toddlers will have access to great movement activities that meet their need to climb and explore with their whole bodies.

Get behind the wheel of your favorite vehicles! From fire trucks and snow plows to ambulances to garbage trucks, kids can climb into the driver’s seat and explore. Plus, grab a photo with movie-star race car Lightning McQueen! Admission is FREE, and this event is a blast for families, rain or shine. We’ll also have headphones available for anyone sensitive to loud sounds. Come join the fun!

Parenting a little one is full of surprises - and a lot of questions! Get hands-on support from our expert Parent Educators while staying side-by-side with your baby. Explore fun, practical ways to encourage learning, connect with other parents going through the same stage, and discover tips and tricks to make everyday moments easier - and more joyful. It’s a welcoming, interactive space where both you and your baby can learn, grow, and have fun together!

Caring for a Crying Baby: Managing Stress and Building Confidence Feeling overwhelmed by your baby's crying? You're not alone. Caring for an infant who has periods of inconsolable crying can be incredibly stressful, and sometimes your best efforts to soothe them just don't work. This informational session will help you understand the "why" behind the crying and give you practical tools to cope when you feel frustrated or overwhelmed. This virtual course is for expecting parents and those who have recently welcomed a newborn, since infant crying is often heightened between 2 and 8 weeks of age. This class lasts roughly 45 minutes and is offered each month on the second Tuesday at 1 pm. Pick up your packet of information at the Early Childhood Family Center a few days before the class.

Young children are natural explorers! In this special fall class, you and your child will discover the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) together. We'll do fun, hands-on activities that help your child observe and interact with the world around them. Over four Saturday mornings between Sept. and December, you and your child will explore exciting topics: planting without seeds, apples, wood, including creating with some wooden toys, and magnets! Plus, 2 bonus virtual sessions for parents only. We'll share the amazing ways your child is growing and learning through STEM activities. This class is FREE and supported through a generous grant from The Partnership Plan. Plus 3 optional parent-ed sessions: Thursdays, Oct. 8 & Nov 12, 8:15-9:15 pm This class is for those who live within the boundaries of Stillwater Schools, since it’s grant-funded through the Partnership Plan. This class is held at Lake Elmo Elementary.

Does getting out the door in the morning turn into a battle? Or maybe bedtime feels like a marathon event? You’re definitely not alone! This one-hour session is all about turning those daily "struggle points" into smoother transitions. We’ll explore simple, practical routines that you can start using at home immediately to make day-to-day life a little easier on everyone. Beyond lowering the stress levels at home, solid routines help your child feel secure and build the skills they’ll eventually need for school success. This is a quick, "real-talk" session designed to give you a clear plan and a few new tricks for your parenting toolkit. Come ready to swap ideas and leave with a calmer game plan for your next busy morning!

Celebrate the special bond between grandparents and grandkid(s). Grandparents and grandchildren come together for fun, hands-on activities that spark curiosity, laughter, and creativity. Sing, play, and interact together in ways that encourage early learning and loving connections, while creating sweet, lasting memories. Join us for a joyful, interactive experience that both grandparents and grandkids will enjoy! During a portion of the class, caregivers move to a separate space for a parent discussion led by a licensed educator, covering topics that match your child’s age and stage.

Join us for a hands-on learning adventure for toddlers, two’s, and preschoolers! In this lively mixed-ages class, children play, explore, and grow together both indoors and outdoors with a caring early childhood teacher. During a portion of the class, caregivers move to a separate space for a parent discussion led by a licensed educator, covering topics that match your child’s age and stage. It’s a wonderful chance to connect with other families, share experiences, and learn together while your little ones have a blast. The Monday Mixed Ages classes and the 3-5 year old Mixed Ages class spend half of the class outdoors, weather permitting. Outdoor gear is provided when needed.

Explore the best type of playground around - NATURE! We’ll explore the Stillwater Area High School Environmental Learning Center and set up camp for our class to build forts, climb on logs, and investigate how the woods are saying goodbye to fall.

Explore the Environmental Learning Center as we collect pine cones, acorns, dried grasses, etc. We will express our gratitude to the Earth as we gather the natural materials. After our explorations and collecting, we will create art with the items we gathered!

Keep those jammies on and come to the Early Childhood Center for PJ Dance and Play Saturday! Join us for some wake-up dance jams, engaging activities, play time, and even a “morning bedtime story”. You and your child will enjoy a variety of learning and movement options!

Young children are natural explorers, and this class is all about curiosity, discovery, and hands-on learning! Each week, children and their caregivers will dive into fun activities focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), exploring the world around them in playful, engaging ways. The class includes time together for parent-child play as well as a separate discussion time for parents to share ideas, ask questions, and explore topics that interest them. *This class begins September 11

Children use their senses to discover the world around them from the moment they are born. Sensory play is not only fun for young children, but it has numerous benefits to your child’s development, including supporting brain development, sensory integration, fine motor skills, observational skills, and emotion regulation. Explore our classroom full of sensory experiences, including clay, water, sand, and finger paint.

Watch your toddler blossom with confidence! In this class, caregivers and children will explore fun, age-appropriate activities designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence. As they grow more comfortable in class, caregivers will gradually move to a separate area, and eventually a separate room for discussion, giving toddlers a chance to develop independence while feeling supported. All toddler classes will utilize the outdoor classroom daily, weather permitting. Outdoor gear is provided for the children when it’s needed. Babies up to 6 months old are welcome to join caregivers in class. If your child is born in the month of September, please contact us at 651-351-4000 to register. Due to a software glitch you will be unable to enroll online. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Baby and Toddler Playtime class is a delightful and interactive experience crafted especially for babies and toddlers aged newborn to 2 years, 6 months. It’s a joyful journey through play-based learning, designed to nurture early development and create lasting memories for both child and caregiver. \Little ones will explore, discover, and socialize with their peers. Join us for a time of laughter, learning, and playtime fun!