Photos on this webpage provided by Olive Juice Studios
The Baby-Preschool webpage is brought to you by the Rochester Area Family Y.
CHILD CARE Nannies of Distinction • Sarah @ 261-0633 • www.nanniesofdistinctionllc.com
Nannies of Distinction is a home childcare placement agency dedicated to making your child's childhood a positive and rewarding experience. Our nannies are trained professionals who support the role of the parent by providing safe, high quality childcare. All of our nannies undergo thorough background checks and complete pre-employment drug tests. We take the guesswork away from hiring the right nanny to care for and protect your children. We offer full-time and part-time nannies along with live out and live in positions.
Family Child Care, Inc. • Rochester Senior Center (121 North Broadway #103) • 535-7493 • www.fccimn.com
Family Child Care, Inc. is a local non-profit organization that supports in-home family child care providers in Olmsted County. Family Child Care also offers a child care provider directory and classified ads section for providers to post their child care openings. Providers should also check out the website's business articles, trainings, and legislative updates. If your family is looking for in-home family child care check out Family Child Care, Inc.
AuPairCare • (Renee Prunty) 206-3120 • rpruntyapc@yahoo.com • www.aupaircare.com
With nearly 20 years of experience, AuPairCare has successfully placed more than 30,000 au pairs with American families throughout the United States. An au pair is a young adult from another country who lives with your family and provides quality care for your children. Au pairs works up to 45 flexible hours per week in exchange for a weekly stipend and the opportunity to live with an American family. All of our au pairs speak English and have been carefully screened and trained by AuPairCare. For more information, visit our website at www.aupaircare.com.
Child Development Students • RCTC (851 30th Avenue SE) • 280-3148 If you are looking for a babysitter (either long-term or one-time), consider contacting the Child Development teachers at RCTC. They may be abel to help you post a babysitting job that will be viewed by all of the Child Development students at RCTC.
Child Care Resource & Referral • 126 Woodlake Drive SE • 287-2020 • www.c2r2.org/home.htm Looking for daycare? Trying to find a preschool? Trying to find a way to pay for preschool? Experiencing a family crisis and need emergency child care? Looking for some help navigating all of the child care information out there? Child Care Resource & Referral is a community-based organization that delivers person-to-person services. Basic referral services are provided at no cost regardless of income level. They provide information on: child care, preschools, School Readiness program, Headstart, Crisis Nursery and more (see below for more info).
*Child Care Referrals •Assistance in locating day care that best meets individual family needs. •Individualized referrals to family child care homes, centers, and in-home care. •Helpful, informative consultation as parents evaluate and choose appropriate quality care. •Information about licensing regulations in Minnesota.
*Preschool Information •Individualized referrals to preschool programs. •School Readiness Preschool Scholarships information and applications. Scholarships are available to children turning 3 or 4 by September 1. Families must be income eligible and live in Olmsted County to be considered for the scholarships. •Head Start information and applications. Head Start is a family-focused comprehensive preschool program for income-eligible children (income guidelines are determined by the Department of Health and Human Services.)
*Referrals to child caregivers with special needs training and experience (where available within the community).
*Crisis Nursery At one time or another, most families experience stress that can feel overwhelming... financial difficulties, serious illness, strained relationships, divorce, or loss of a loved one. During such times, providing children with the care and attention they need may be difficult. Most families who use crisis nursery services are ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations. In times of stress, most turn to family, friends, or co-workers to help us through troubled waters. But, for many - single parents, isolated families, new residents, and people without resources -- there is no safe haven. Crisis Nursery service is a family support program that may provide temporary, short-term care for children, while families address the crisis situation. Care may be arranged for daytime hours or for overnight care.
CLASSES Community Education Preschool Classes • 201 8th St NW (Northrup Education Center) • 285-8350 • www.rochester.k12.mn.us/school86 Looking for a fun class for your child? Community Education Preschool provides a safe and nurturing environment with stimulating and challenging activity choices that promote physical, social, emotional, and cognitive learning. The Preschool Community Ed registration booklet is mailed out three times a year. Community Ed Preschool classes are (typically) for children age 9 months - 6 years. There are a wide variety of classes, including: swim, dance, arts and crafts, science and nature, and sports.
Please note that the flip side of the purple/white Community Ed Preschool registration booklet is the PAIIR registration booklet.
My daugher took Miss Tanya's dance class for two years - and loved it!
ECFE/PAIIR • 201 8th St NW (Northrup Education Center) • 285-8033 • www.rochester.k12.mn.us/school86 Looking for a parent/child class? Check out PAIIR. Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a public school program available to all Minnesota families (it is not an income-based program) with children from birth to kindergarten enrollment. In Rochester, the ECFE program is called Parents Are Important In Rochester (PAIIR).
The PAIIR registration booklet is mailed out three times a year. Classes typically run September - December and January - April, and an abbreviated summer schedule in May and June. The parent/child classes are typically offered Monday - Saturday with morning, afternoon, and evening choices. These fun parent/child classes (including PAIIR Readiness Preschool - see listing below in PRESCHOOL), are taught by licensed parent educators and early childhood teachers who work directly with parents and their young children.
Please note that the flip side of the PAIIR registration booklet is the Community Education Preschool registration booklet.
We've taken PAIIR classes since moving to Rochester in 2000 - and really enjoyed them, the teachers, and the parents/kids we've met. If you are new to Rochester and/or new to parenting PAIIR classes are an excellent way to meet other parents, set up playdates and learn to navigate your way around Rochester (and parenting).
SCHOOL READINESS Imagination Library • 287-2000 • www.uwolmsted.org/imaginationform.pdf Studies show that when kids are given regular ‘lap-time’ not ‘laptop’ time, but time spent reading books before kindergarten their vocabulary can reach 10,000 words before age 5. For a child who hasn’t had this experience, their vocabulary is about 3,000 words. In our community today, 3 out of 5 kids are not fully equipped for success when they enter kindergarten.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library provides one book each month to children in Olmsted County from birth to age 5 whose parents register to receive them. All children in Olmsted County are eligible to participate in the program. These sturdy, colorful, age-appropriate books are delivered directly to the child. Each book is selected for the developmental benefits it brings - and for the fun. There is no cost to the family. Imagination Library is sponsored locally by the United Way of Olmsted County in cooperation with the Dollywood Foundation, Olmsted County Public Health, Friends of the Rochester Public Library, the United States Postal Service, and a growing list of organizations and agencies throughout Olmsted County. Register online or call the United Way.
First Steps • 2200 Second Street, SW Suite 300 (Rochester Area Foundation) • 282-1027 • www.firststeps.us FIRST STEPS is a local collaborative public-private economic development program being spearheaded by the Rochester Area Foundation to assure that our children are ready for school when they enter kindergarten. They are partnered with a number of local youth-serving organizations (Child Care Resource and Referral, Rochester Public Schools, FACES) and others to carry out the mission of the program. Parents and caregivers may find their Parents Page especially helpful as there are a variety of articles on subjects such as child development, 3-year check-in/screening, school readiness and ten tips for kindergarten readiness.
SPECIAL NEEDS Rochester Public Schools, Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Program • 287-1679 (birth-2 yrs) 287-1585 (3-5 yrs) ECSE provides early intervention services for children with Developmental Delays in a variety of areas such as cognition, motor, social, or speech development. ECSE provides children who are diagnosed under the ECSE criteria with appropriate educational programs that are designed to meet their particular needs, enabling them to more fully participate in their home, school, and community. If you have questions about any of the services ECSE provides or would like to refer your child for evaluation call the numbers listed above.
HEALTH SERVICES Olmsted County Public Health Services • 2100 Campus Drive SE • 285-8370 • www.co.olmsted.mn.us/departments/health/index.asp Provides a number of services including immunizations, child and teen checkup clinics, the WIC Program, Follow Along Program, pregnancy and parenting home visits, and services to children with special needs. Call for more information on appointments and fees.
Follow Along Program • 1-800-728-5420 or 651-201-3650 in Olmsted County call 285-8370 • www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/mcshn/fap.htm Babies and young children grow and learn at their own rate. Some children, though, need special help to grow up healthy and learn skills such as sitting, walking, or talking. The Follow Along Program can help you know if this is true for your child. The Follow Along Program is: • A good way to learn about your child's health and development. • For children birth to 36 months.
• A fun way to get ideas about "what to teach" and "at what age" to teach it.
• A simple way to ask questions about how your child is hearing, moving, seeing, playing, talking, learning, growing, and acting.
• An easy way to find out about other services you may want for your child.
A professional, most often a nurse, may visit with you to tell you more about the program and find out more about your child. Questionnaires are sent to you when your child reaches different ages. Each questionnaire asks how your child is growing, playing, talking, moving, and acting. Sheets with fun activities for you to do with your child or other age appropriate items are also sent to you. The results of the questionnaires will be shared with you. If there are any concerns, a nurse or other professional from the program will get in touch with you. Together, you can talk about choices for further evaluation or early help services. After your child is 36 months old, you will get information about the next step, Early Childhood Screening. There is no cost to you for participating in the Follow Along Program.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES United Way of Olmsted County • 903 West Center Street, Suite 100 • 287-7877 • www.volunteersolutions.org/olmsted/volunteer/search.tcl The United Way of Olmsted County's Volunteer Center provides easy access to a wide range of volunteer opportunities at nonprofit agencies and local government and educational agencies serving Southeastern Minnesota. Their searchable online database features hundreds of local volunteer opportunities in Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, and Wabasha counties. They link people (including families and groups) who want to help with places or issues where their time, talent, and interests can be utilized. You can search for volunteer opportunities by agency name, group size, issue area, zip code, ongoing or one-time opportunities, calendar of events, summer youth opportunities or holiday opportunities. Families can also search for volunteer opportunities based on the age of their younger family members.
CAR SAFETY Car Seat Checkups Would you like to make sure that your child's carseat/booster seat is installed correctly? That it's a good fit for your child/car? Then give a call to either of these free programs.
•"Fit for a Kid" program •Free at Adamson motors (regardless if you bought your vehicle there or not) •Contact: Theresa Jarland, 289-4004, for an appointment
or
•Mayo Clinic Child Passenger Safety Program •Free inspections •Contact: Sharon Munns, 255-5066, for an appointment
FUN Apache Mall Soft Play Area (Hwys 52 South & 14 East) inside in front of Sears • 288-8056 • www.apachemall.com Need to get your kids out of the house during that long Rochester winter? Bring them to Apache Mall where they can climb on bridges, canoes, trees, and much more in the FREE Soft Play Area. Apache Mall’s Soft Play Area is designed for children 42” and shorter to play under parental or guardian supervision. Apache Mall’s Soft Play Area is open from 7:30am – 9:00pm Monday – Saturday and 10:00am – 6:00pm on Sundays. The Soft Play Area is maintained by the Apache Mall staff and anti-bacterial lotion is available, perfect for the winter germ season. While you’re at Apache Mall check out our other Mom-friendly amenities including Kids FunPacks available at Guest Services, Table Topper’s adhesive plastic placemats available in the Food Court, and Sanitary wipes available at each stroller vending system.
Quarry Hill Nature Center • 281-6114 • www.qhnc.org Quarry Hill offers a variety of parent/child (2-5 yrs) preschool nature classes. Classes may include an outdoor adventure, art, stories, and snacks. Quarry Hill also offers Sunday afternoon programs, all beginning at 1:30pm. See the ROCHESTERfamilies.com Calendar of Events for more information.
Rochester Public Library • 101 2nd Street SE • 285-8000 • www.rochesterpubliclibrary.org Rochester has one public library. It's located downtown and is connected to other downtown establishments via the skyway (lunch at the Galleria and a trip to Barnes and Noble is a fun end to a morning at the library). The library offers several fun preschool programs including: Story time sessions for 3-5 year-olds (Fall, Winter, Spring - registration required), evening bedtime story time sessions for all ages, a summer reading program, STORYLINE (dial 287-2605 to hear a 3-minute children's story), and Summer Fun @ The Library (45-minute programs incuding musicians, magicians, and ventriliquists).
The library also has one bookmobile that operates year-round. Books may be reserved online for pickup at the bookmobile. Visit the library's website to checkout the bookmobile's schedule.
Pipsqueaks • 903 W Center St (United Way Building) • 287-2000 • www.rochestermn.gov/departments/park/facilities/pipsqueaks Ever feel like your kids just need a place to run, jump, scream, and play? Pipsqueaks is a public indoor play zone designed for children kindergarten-age and younger to play under parental or guardian supervision (children may not be dropped off). Pipsqueaks offers young children a safe, clean play space to burn off energy during the long winter months. Play zones include toddler/crawler, climb and slide, riding, and an imagination center. Soft-soled clean gym shoes are allowed in play areas - no boots, stockings or bare feet allowed. A fun place to go with your kids and/or to meet with your play group, Pipsqueaks is located at the United Way of Olmsted County. Admission per session is $2/child; $6/for up to four children. Pipsqueaks is typically open Monday through Saturday, October through April. Visit their website for this year's hours.
OTHER Pathways to Wellness Counseling Services, LLC • Jennifer A. Baumgardner, MSW, LGSW • 261-7392 • www.pathways2wellness.net. Pathways to Wellness is a private therapy practice. We provide individual, couple, and family counseling to all ages, specializing in children, adolescents, and young adults. Services may include, but are not limited to, work with anxiety, depression, behavioral concerns, adolescent struggles, substance use, parenting skills, social skill building, and relationship skills. We concentrate on serving our clients' diverse needs in a way that meets each client where he or she is at in life. Our goal is to provide a supportive environment that will challenge clients to consider their current life paths, as well as potential alterations needed to take charge of their life journey. Together we explore paths of change towards wellness of mind, body, and spirit.
Olive Juice Studios • 252-0490 • www.olivejuicestudios.com Olive Juice Studios offers a comfortable and convenient alternative to traditional studio photography. Scott and Kelly call it "unplugged" because, although they have a photo studio in NW Rochester, they prefer to photograph kids in their homes and/or favorite parks without artificial lighting, backdrops or props. Your kids will love Olive Juice Studios because they don't have to sit still, look at the camera or smile if they don't want to--the photographer just follows them around as they eat, sleep and play. You will love Olive Juice Studios because the kids in your photos will look like the ones you know and love every day.
Usborne Books • 286-7832 (Andrea) • www.ubah.com/z1004 Andrea Sztajnkrycer is a local Independent Educational Consultant with Usborne Books. She can provide an opportunity for you to see Usborne books in person. These are the Books Kids Love to Read! With over 1,300 titles to choose from, you will find a number of books that will suit your child or children! Usborne Books offer educational books with a fun flair to captivate and entertain kids of ALL ages.
A PUZZLED WORLD • Jessica & Jeff Raschka • 3110 Wellner Dr. NE Suite 300, right behind Whistle Binkies North • 696-1874 • apuzzledworld@yahoo.com A Puzzled World has fun things for all ages and abilities. The store has things related to disabilities like autism, down syndrome, cp, AD/HD and more. You will find books, toys, OT/PT stuff, speech stuff, weighted blankets/vests apparel and so much more. In the spring of 2008, A Puzzled World established a rental system of toys, games, learning tools and therapy equipment. The rental program works similar to popular programs like Netflix. For a monthly fee, a customer can check out items and exchange them on a regular basis for new things. Parents that have children from birth to 13 will have hundreds of items to choose from. Plans start at $29.99 a month.
My Fussy Baby • www.MyFussyBaby.com Do you have a baby? Do you know someone who does? Then we have a book for you. Written by Jennifer Koski, a Rochester-based freelance writer and mom to two young sons (one of whom had colic for longer than he had any right to!). 50 Ways to Calm Your Fussy Baby can help you get through baby’s fussy periods with your sanity intact! After surveying dozens of both seasoned and new moms and dads, Jennifer compiled the most effective tips for calming fussy babies — with specific instructions and descriptions on how to perform each. To make sure each tip was safe and medically sound, the entire book was reviewed by a pediatric nurse practitioner.
Of course, parents need more than just a list of ways to calm their babies. They also need to calm themselves — and to be educated on what causes fussy periods, whether medications work, and how to tell if their baby has colic. That’s why 50 Ways to Calm Your Fussy Baby features: more than 50 tips, tactics and pieces of advice for calming your fussy baby; 15 tactics for calming yourself during baby’s fussy periods; one Mom’s Story of surviving life with a colicky baby; how to tell if your baby has colic — and what to do if he or she does; what part, if any, diet plays in your baby’s fussiness; whether “colic medications” work; preventing shaken baby syndrome; proof that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Featherstone Fruits and Vegetables • Winona, Minnesota • 507-452-4244 • www.featherstonefarm.com Enjoy fresh local organic produce weekly with Featherstone Fruits and Vegetables! Featherstone is a 40 acre certified organic farm located in the fertile Wiscoy Valley, just south of Winona. Our goal as we farm is to provide fresh food for our community while contributing to the health of our land and local economy. Through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, Featherstone delivers weekly organic produce boxes to drop off sites in Rochester from early June through October. Through the CSA program, you’ll receive, along with your weekly produce, a newsletter with recipe ideas, updates on crops and farm projects, as well as invitations to farm events, including the Strawberry Social, Salsa Workshop and our fall Hoe-down Harvest Party. For CSA subscription information please visit our website or call Sarah at 507-452-4244. We’ll also be at the Rochester Farmer’s Market starting in May. Hope to see you there!
Discovery Toys • 507-292-0497 • www.discoverytoyslink.com/KariRichards Discovery Toys carries educational games, books, and toys that are enjoyed by people of all ages – birth through elderly! Their products come with a lifetime guarantee. Interested in more information? You may contact Kari Richards, local Discovery Toys Educational Consultant, to see and handle products or to see a current catalog with classics such as: Marbleworks, Playful Patterns, and Measure-Up Cups or feel free to browse through the on-line catalog.
Rochester Greeters • 282-9970 • www.rochestergreeters.com Are you new to the Rochester area? Rochester Greeters wants to assist you in settling into your new location. They have a welcome bag that is full of helpful information that will give you an excellent start in finding your way around the Rochester area! The welcome bag includes: county and city maps, civic information, and lists of clubs and organizations. The welcome bag also includes products, coupons, and gift certificates from local businesses. Are you interested in receiving a welcome package? Would you like to request a greeting for yourself or someone else? Contact Rochester Greeters!
Hair on Wheels • 254-2213 • www.haironwheelsonline.com There's a new kids haircutting service in town - Hair on Wheels. Hair on Wheels is Rochester's first and only on-site daycare salon. It is an exciting new business designed to give working parents more time with their families by providing professional, salon quality haircuts to children while at daycare. Hair on Wheels is owned by Jill Duellman, a mother of two. Check out Jill's website for more info, including participating daycares, prices, and photos of sample haircuts.
Do you know of additional baby-preschool resources? Let us know. Send relevant information (organization's name, services they provide, phone number or email address) to lindy@rochesterfamilies.com.
PRESCHOOLS So you're baby isn't such a little baby any more. And maybe you're starting to think about preschools. But where to start? First, grab a copy of the Child Care Resource and Referral pink "Choices" booklet which lists all of Rochester's 15 plus preschools (in addition to day care providers/centers who may offer preschool curriculum), including their addresses, phone numbers, hours of operation, ages served (many enroll 3 year olds, some enroll even younger students), fees, and other need-to-know information. Second, ask your friends, family, neighbors where their kids went to preschool and what they liked about the school. Third, make a phone call to the preschools you are interested in to set up tours. I'd recommend calling the Fall before your child will start preschool. During that phone call you can arrange for a tour, find out the date they will begin to accept registrations, and ask any questions you may have (i.e. potty training/diaper policies, class hours/days, ratio of teachers to kids, staff qualifications, school rules/philosophies, school/teacher accreditations). Many preschools hold their registrations soon after the first of the calendar year. And many preschools fill up fast. (Most preschools do offer waiting lists - so if you're getting a late start on the process don't stress. Make the phone calls and start the process.) Fourth, if you think you can not afford preschool, call Child Care Resources and Referral at 287-2020 and see what options may be available.
First Discoveries Childcare (a homebased preschool program for children ages 2-5 who are completely potty trained) 515 15th AVE SW (1 block from St. Marys Hospital) www.firstdiscoverieschildcare.com Heather@firstdiscoverieschildcare.com
Good News Children's Center, Inc. 2645 North Broadway 285-1167
Head Start 126 Woodlake Drive SE 287-2020
Head Start is a family-focused comprehensive preschool program for income-eligible children (income guidelines are determined by the Department of Health and Human Services).
Kingdom Kids Christian Preschool 4400 55th Street NW 282-4840
Meadow Park Day Care Center 971 16th Street SE 289-6483
PAIIR Readiness Northrup Community Ed Center 201 8th Street NW 285-8033
PAIIR Readiness is a combination preschool/early childhood family education program for 3, 4, and 5 year olds. For both the two- and three-day programs on the first day parents and child come together and start with a parent/child time, followed by separate parent/education and child/preschool time. On the second (and third day) children return for their own class that requires no parent attendance.
Precious is the Child Preschool Ascension Ev. Lutheran Church (WELS) 2117 11th Avenue SE 288-2781 www.preciousisthechild.org
Rainbow School Zumbro Lutheran Church (ELCA) 624 Third Avenue SW 261-0586 www.rainbowschool.us
Y-Tots Rochester Area Family Y 709 First Avenue SW 287-2260
Rochester Catholic Nursery School at St. Francis of Assisi School 318 11th Avenue SE 288-4816
Rochester Central Lutheran School (RCLS) Preschool 2619 9th Avenue NW 289-3267
Rochester Montessori School 400 5th Avenue SW 288-8725 www.rmschool.org
Did your child/does your child currently attend a Rochester preschool? If you would like to provide a comment that might be helpful to other parents, please email us. If you know of a Rochester area preschool that isn't listed here, please email us at lindy@rochesterfamilies.com.
