Early Childhood

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Welcome to

Kids Adventure / ECFE!

Kids Adventure Preschool is a Four-Star Parent Aware rated early learning program for children ages 3 up to kindergarten enrollment.

Research has long shown that high quality early childhood experiences both in and out of the classroom set a strong foundation for children's learning and social well-being. At Kids Adventure, our licensed teachers strive to make the most of children's classroom time through our research driven curriculum that blends science,literacy, math and social skills in a way that emphasizes creativity, problem solving and thinking skills.

Through a balanced schedule of play and teacher-led activities we build children's abilities to work with others, handle their strong emotions, and resolve conflict; we also provide support to families to help build these skills at home. At Kids Adventure, we know that investing in children's early experiences today gives all of us a better tomorrow!

Early Childhood Coordinator
Amy Kimball

KIDS ADVENTURE NEWS

Keep up to date on our latest news and happenings here!

KIDS ADVENTURE SESSIONS

Our focus is to provide a developmentally based program rich in promoting school readiness skills. We offer a curriculum rich in social, emotional, intellectual and physical development.

MORNING SESSIONS

8:00AM – 11:00 AM
CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION

AFTERNOON SESSIONS

12:00PM – 3:00 PM
CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION

FULL DAY SESSIONS

8:00AM – 3:00 PM
CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION

ELIGIBILITY

CHILDREN MUST BE 3 OR 4 YEARS OF AGE BY SEPTEMBER 1, 2022.
IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT ALL STUDENTS BE TOILET TRAINED.

A DAY AT KIDS ADVENTURE

Kids Adventure is a school readiness and early childhood special education (ECSE) collaborative. Kids Adventure is run in cooperation with Perham Public Schools, with the same school days and with the same calendar and corresponding days off.

Sign-In

Kids sign-in with their classroom teacher and work on beginning handwriting skills

Morning Circle

Theme based songs/greetings, sharing, stories, games, calendar

Breakfast/Snack

Practice table manners and handwashing

Reading Readiness

Work on rhyming, phonics, letter recognition, beginning writing

Math Readiness

Number recognition, 1:1 correspondence, patterning, counting, sorting

Gross Motor Skills

Indoor boost-up space (obstacle course), outdoor play, running, throwing, catching

Art/ Music/ Dramatic Play

Theme related dramatic play, art, and song experiences, cutting, gluing

Science & Nature

Life cycles, nature, sensory play, weather observations, experiments

Social/ Emotional Play

Sharing, taking turns, feelings, communicating with others, play based learning

TUITION RATES

Tuition is based on family income

PAYMENTS CAN BE ACCEPTED ONLINE, ANYTIME THROUGH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S WEBSITE.

Contact Amanda Nelson to set up your Infinite Campus Portal Account

FULL RATE

2 Half Days/Week: $103 a month / $927 for the school year

2 Full Days/Week: $206 a month /$1854 for the school year

4 Full Days/Week: $412 a month / $3708 for the school year

REDUCED RATE

2 Half Days/Week: $74 a month / $665 for the school year

2 Full Days/Week: $148 a month / $1330 for the school year

4 Full Days/ Week: $296 a month / $2660 for the school year

LOWEST RATE

2 Half Days/Week: $61 a month / $549 for the school year

2 Full Days/Week: $122 a month / $1098 for the school year

4 Full Days/ Week: $244 a month /$2196 for the school year

ENROLLMENT FORMS

Use the forms below for enrollment at Kids Adventure/ECFE Programs

EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a program available to all children ages 2-5 together with their parents. Its goals are to strengthen families and to help children develop to their full potential.

There are classes available each season with time for parent-child interaction and parent discussion at Kids Adventure at Heart of the Lakes Elementary School.

Special activities include playtimes, field trips, & speaker nights for parents.

WHAT IS EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION (ECFE)?

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a program available to all children ages 0-5 together with their parents. Its goals are to strengthen families and to help children develop to their full potential. A variety of classes and activities are offered during the daytime and evenings. On going classes meet once a week for 1 1/2 hours, with time for parent-child interaction and parent discussion. Special activities include playtimes, field trips, & speaker nights for parents.

WHAT HAPPENS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION?

Parent/Child Time—Begin with 30 minutes of activities for you and your child. Centers are designed to provide children with guided learning experiences and to provide parents with ideas for home activities.
Children’s Classroom—While parents are in a nearby room for discussion, the children have a chance to interact with others their age and to experience a variety of activities, which promote overall growth. This class is taught by a licensed Early Childhood teacher.
Parent Discussion—While your child is in the classroom, you will have the opportunity to meet with other parents to discuss joys and concerns in an informal setting, with a licensed Parent Educator. Parent topics are determined by you and the other group members at the beginning of each quarter.
Community Education has an advisory council that provides overall parental and community input in the planning, implementing and evaluation of the program.

WHY INVOLVE PARENTS?

Research shows that early childhood programs involving both parents and children are more effective than programs focusing exclusively on children. Educators and psychologists contend that it is vital for early childhood programs to assist parents in their role as primary educators of their children. Involving families prior to kindergarten enrollment encourages parents to play an active role in their children’s learning from birth into the elementary years and beyond. And research confirms that children whose parents are involved in their education and learning are more successful in school.

WHY DO WE NEED EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION?

Contrary to the belief that raising children comes naturally, there is growing recognition that being a parent is extremely demanding and difficult work. It requires learning new skills and focusing on children’s needs, and it is facilitated by the support and help of family, friends, and community.

Changes in society underscore the need for Early Childhood Family Education. The high mobility of American families means that adults are often far from family and friends during their parenting years. The high divorce rate creates a growing number of single parent and step-parent families. Economic pressures result in more families in which both parents are employed. The general complexity of modern life combines with these factors to create intense stress on families of all income levels. Finally, a growing percentage of children and families are living in poverty, which makes meeting even basic needs a daily struggle.

HOW IS ECFE FUNDED & WHAT DOES IT COST?

Early Childhood Family Education was developed through a series of pilot programs funded by the Minnesota Legislature and coordinated by the Minnesota Council on Quality Education from 1974 to 1983. In 1984, the legislature made it possible for any school district with a Community Education program to establish and Early Childhood Family Education program. The programs are financed with combined local and state funding, which may be supplemented with registration fees and funds from other sources.

The basic program includes parent education, early childhood education, and parent-child interaction and families typically participate two hours a week throughout the school year. Costs to deliver the program vary with extent, intensity, and location of services. At an average cost to the program of 0 per participant, ECFE costs less than many programs focusing primarily on children. Parents pay only nominal fees that are reduced or waived upon request.

WHO BENEFITS FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION?

All society benefits from strong families and healthy, well-developed children. The potential of Early Childhood Family Education to prevent or reduce later learning problems of children is confirmed by evaluation of the Minnesota programs and similar programs throughout the country. Parents report increased feelings of support and confidence in their parenting role, better understanding of how children develop, changed expectations for themselves and their children, and improved parenting behaviors. Program evaluations also show that Early Childhood Family Education if effective with families of all income levels.
Research strongly suggests that dollars spent on Early Childhood Family Education are more than repaid by savings in remedial health, education, and welfare costs during later school years. Strong families are the foundation of a strong society now and far into the future.