Wonder Years

On Monday, March 14, I had the opportunity to visit the most recent addition to the Science Museum of Minnesota. The Wonder Years is an 1,800 square feet exhibition located in the museum's Human Body Gallery. The exhibition is filled with information about the importance of relationships to healthy development with videos and a creative play area, various interactive experiences that tested my knowledge of child development as well as a challenge to all who enter this exhibition about our "personal" responsibility to our youngest citizens.

I found myself needing more time to visit all the areas of the exhibit and hope to return this spring! The exhibit is NOT just for early childhood professionals/educators but for all people- young and old, parents & non-parents to experience the magic and wonder of the world through a child's eyes. Many thanks to Karen Cadigan, University of Minnesota and Wonder Years project leader as well as the Science Museum of Minnesota. This is truly one of the best exhibitions I have seen!

Check out the Exhibit Highlights here.

"Celebrate" community event in Sauk Rapids

If you are in the Sauk-Rapids-Rice area the evening of April 1st, check out the second annual Community Celebration at the Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Bring your kids to the Kid Zone (face painting, story time and games), enjoy free food samples, gather information from over 60 different community, school and cultural resources and enjoy some entertainment! Sounds like a fun Friday night - no foolin'! Click here for an event flyer.

Workshop Opportunity

Hey folks! Just wanted to share an upcoming regional workshop opportunity sponsored by the Minnesota Council on Family Relations and the University of Minnesota Extension. The "Ethical Thinking and Practice for Parent and Family Life Educators" workshop will be held in St. Cloud (at theKelly Inn) from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. on April 13th.

The workshop will cover:

• The different ways we look at ethical issues.
• How to define an ethical issue.
• A set of ethical principles developed by and for family professionals, and a process for applying these principles in your work with families.

Registration cost is $30 for MCFR or MNAFEE members; $40 for all others. Certificates for 3 clock hours will be provided.



For more information on this opportunity, click here.

Cute, cute, cute!

Just had to share some great photos of kids at the Mikinnack Child Care Center in Cass Lake!  We made a grant to the center last year to help them open their doors in order to serve more young children.

Attachment Workshop: March 21

Monday, March 21, 2011 @ 6:30 p.m.
Milaca High School

Please join Becky Maki (a licensed parent educator, elementary teacher and
community education director) and other childcare providers for a evening of discussion on forming healthy relationships with the young children in your care.

The focus of this workshop will be helping childcare givers understand the important process of attachment between caregivers and the children in their care. 
 
There is no charge for the workshop - food and childcare will be provided!!

Call Childcare Resource & Referral to RSVP: 1-800-890-5399

> download the PDF flyer

MIF Website - a great EC resource!

If you haven't stumbled across this yet, the Minnesota Initiative Foundation's shared website (www.greaterminnesota.net) has a TON of Promising Strategies (ie. best practices) for early childhood groups to review and use. 

Happy browsing!  http://greaterminnesota.net/form.php