Programs for Families
We know that family time is precious time. We also know that with all the stresses of our daily lives, creating time with your family that’s both fun and educational is of utmost importance. At the CFEC, we’ve created programs that are designed to bring parent and child together in a playful and educational way.
Whale of a Tale
interactive story time
Instill the love of reading within your child from infancy upward by participating in our multi-sensory story hour. Weekly themes incorporate story telling, singing, and rhyming. The many benefits of reading to children include increased attention spans, enhanced vocabulary development, and curiosity – a trait that must be fostered in young children or they will never acquire it. Many children who are read to begin reading on their own without any formal instruction. Come with your “listening ears” on!
- Birth to 5 years
- Mondays; 11:30-12:00 - picnic lunch story time with Miss Erin!
- Thursdays; 10:30-11:00 - bilingual story time with Miss Aimee!
May 3: Animal Quackers
May 7 & 10: Happy Mother’s Day!
May 14 & 17: Up, Up & Away
May 21 & 24: Opposites Attract
May 28: Pool Party!
Cost: Complimentary
*No need to register – just show up!
Chatterpillar
multilingual play groups
Guten Morgen! Bonjour! Hola! Young children acquire language at an astonishing rate, beginning in infancy. By the time they’re 24 months old they’re actually ready to acquire a 3rd and even 4th language! With this in mind, the CFEC is hosting weekly foreign language play groups. Don’t know the language? No problem! You and your child will be immersed in target language play, a fun and effective way to learn a language, for both of you! Don’t be shy, give it a try!
- German play group: in need of a facilitator
- French play group: in need of a facilitator
- Spanish play group: in need of a facilitator
*Please check our Facebook page before attending to avoid cancellations.
*If you would like to serve as a play group coordinator please contact Bridget.
Signing Safari!™
more signing, less whining!
Join your child in singing, signing, playing, & rhyming! Research shows that once hearing babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are taught to sign their brains actually become more developed! Early childhood benefits include preverbal communication, earlier speech development, larger vocabularies, enhanced intellectual development, enhanced literacy skills, and less frustration (less crying, fewer tantrums!). Children can “talk” with their hands as early as 9 months! Why whine when you can sign?!
- Ages: 6 to 14 months from 11:45 – 12:30 (Class Code: SS1)
- Ages: 15 to 35 months from 10:45 – 11:30 (Class Code: SS2)
- 10-week Summer Term; Wednesdays, June 6th – August 8th
- Ages: 6 to 35 months
- Saturdays, June 9th – August 11th (Class Code: SS3)
- 10-week Summer Term; 12:30 – 1:15
Cost: $115 per term for one child; $165 for 2 children (fee includes a Signing Safari children’s DVD of your choice)
*Please include your Class Code & phone # when registering, along with how many parents will be attending if you’ve chosen a Saturday class.
Register for Signing Safari!™ ($115.00, One person, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Signing Safari!™ ($103.5, One person, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Register for Signing Safari!™ ($165.00, Two people, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Signing Safari!™ ($148.5, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Family Fiesta
a Spanish celebration!
Children should begin learning a second language as early as possible because a child’s brain is capable of storing different languages in different areas, something that an adult brain is incapable of. Through simple games, puppetry, and stories and songs already familiar to your child, they will easily become familiar with colors, numbers, and typical daily words and phrases. Come join our family fiesta – no sombrero needed!
- Ages: 18 months to 5 years
- Thursdays; 9:30-10:15 (Class Code: FF).
- 9-week Summer Term, June 7th – August 2nd
Cost: $90 per term for; $135 for 2 children
*Please include your Class Code & phone # when registering.
Register for Family Fiesta ($90.00, One person, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Family Fiesta ($81, One person, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Register for Family Fiesta ($135.00, Two people, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Family Fiesta ($121.5, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
The PeaWee Patch
organic gardening fun
Whether it’s wiggling their toes in the dirt, looking under leaves, or digging up worms, the garden cultivates a sense of wonder in children! As they plant seeds, protect their plants from weeds, and provide water for their growing flowers, fruits, and veggies, they develop nurturing skills and grow to have a sense of respect and care for all living creatures, even the ones that live under rocks! In the garden, students learn to work cooperatively with others, practice patience, and experience pride in their accomplishments. Each of our themed gardening classes opens with music, a story, and a craft, then we’ll spend the remainder of our time out in the PeaWee Patch. Join us and watch your child’s love for nature blossom!
- Ages: 21 months to 5 years
- Fridays, 9:30-10:15 (Class Code: TPP1)
- 9-week Summer Term, June 15th – August 10th
*Children should wear clothes & footwear appropriate for garden work, sunscreen, & a hat.
Cost: $90 per term for one child; $135 for 2 children
*Please include your Class Code & phone # when registering.
Register for The PeaWee Patch ($90.00, One person, Helping Hand Members)
Register for The PeaWee Patch ($81, One person, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Register for The PeaWee Patch ($135.00, Two people, Helping Hand Members)
Register for The PeaWee Patch ($121.5, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Imagination Station
art exploration
Encourage your child to release their inner creativity during our weekly story-themed art classes. We’ll explore with a wide variety of mediums, such as paint, clay, sand, products from nature, and everyday recyclable items. Giving your child the freedom to express themselves artistically enhances their cognitive skills, problem-solving abilities, manual dexterity, and sensory awareness. Watch their self-esteem blossom as your child is encouraged to let their imagination run wild! (and no clean-up time for you!)
- Ages: 2 to 5 years
- Thursdays, June 7th – August 9th (Class Code: IS2)
- 10-week Summer Term; 11:30 – 12:15
Cost: $100 per term; $150 for 2 children
*Please include your Class Code & phone # when registering.
Register for Imagination Station ($100.00, One person, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Imagination Station ($90, One person, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Register for Imagination Station ($150.00, Two people, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Imagination Station ($135, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Music Express
improvisational music exploration – NEW!
Music can be familiar, by singing a song that you already know – and it can also be different every time, if you improvise. Music improvisation can provide a safe, non-intimidating environment that allows children the freedom to explore their emotions and express themselves. In this unique and inclusive class, led by a music therapist, children of all abilities are welcome regardless of developmental skill level. Your child’s communication skills will be encouraged and stimulated, and their creativity and individuality will flourish, as they explore the keyboard, guitar, drums, and other musical instruments along with their voice. Our music will be dynamic and exciting – different every time as we create it “in the moment”! Happy, sad, excited, mad … let’s “express” ourselves through music!
- Ages: 2 to 5 years
- Tuesdays, 11:30-12:15 (Class Code: ME2)
- 9-week Summer Term, June 5th – August 7th (no class 7/3)
- for the infant/toddler class, please visit our For Kids page
Cost: $90 per term; $135 for 2 children
*Please include your Class Code & phone # when registering.
Register for Music Express ($90.00, One person, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Music Express ($81, One person, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Register for Music Express ($135.00, Two people, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Music Express ($121.5, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Animal Action
family fitness fun!
No time to exercise? Our unique parent-child fitness class gives you the opportunity to get in shape while having fun monkeying around with your child! We’ll wiggle like worms, balance like flamingos, hop like frogs, and stomp like elephants as we encourage our little ones to express themselves creatively with the help of animals from all around the world. So squeeze into those work out digs that you use to rock out in B.B. (Before Baby), and dance like an animal with your little one!
- Ages: 2 to 5 years
- Fridays, June 8th – August 10th (Class Code: AA1)
- 10-week Summer Term; 10:30-11:15
Cost: $100 per term; $150 for 2 children
*Please include your Class Code & phone # when registering.
Register for Animal Action ($100.00, One person, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Animal Action ($90, One person, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Register for Animal Action ($150.00, Two people, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Animal Action ($135, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Cupcake Kids
finger lickin’ fun!
Designed to accommodate our littlest chefs, each up-to-your-elbows-in-fun cooking class is designed to familiarize children with diverse foods, provide an opportunity to learn about where food comes from (besides the supermarket!), and to show that healthy eating can be fun and tasty! Each class your culinary cutie will practice their math, motor, sensory, and social skills as they learn how to measure, mix, pour, and create age-appropriate recipes. Cooking is hands-on yummy fun which gives children the self-confidence and independence to sample new things and explore new tastes. As we “stir up” a delicious mix of culinary and educational fun-damentals for all, perhaps you’ll begin to notice less power struggles about eating at home!
- Ages: 2 to 5 years
- Wednesdays, June 13th – August 8th (Class Code: CK)
- 9-week Summer Term; 11:30–12:15
Cost: $110 per term; $155 for 2 children (includes a $20/child cooking supplies fee)
*This class may contain nuts – no pun intended! No, seriously, if your child has food allergies, please enroll them in a different class. We have lots to choose from!
*Please include your Class Code & phone # when registering.
Register for Cupcake Kids ($110..00, One person, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Cupcake Kids ($99, One person, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Register for Cupcake Kids ($155..00, Two people, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Cupcake Kids ($139.5, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Culture Club
it’s a small world after all!
Help your child to develop an appreciation for the beauty of other cultures through our Culture Club class! Each week your little one will be exposed, in a simple, age-appropriate manner, to a different world culture through music, singing, and dancing, as well as simple words in that day’s language. We’ll play with games and toys that children from other countries enjoy, have story time and wrap up our global travel with a craft. Your child will be a world traveler before they’re even old enough to ride a bike!
- Ages: 2 to 5 years
- Mondays, June 4th – August 6th (Class Code: CC)
- 10-week Summer Term; 10:45- 11:30
Cost: $100per term for one child; $150 for 2 children
*Please include your Class Code & phone # when registering.
Register for Culture Club ($100.00, One person, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Culture Club ($90, One person, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Register for Culture Club ($150.00, Two people, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Culture Club ($135, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Hands Up!
making & playing with puppets
Puppet play is an excellent way for children to work through fears and vocalize their feelings as well as teaching social skills such as taking turns and sharing. Puppets have an almost magical power in their capacity for captivating the imagination of young children, and in fact up until age eight, kids learn safety information and rules ten times faster from a puppet than from the mouth of their parent! This unique puppetry class incorporates puppet making and basic puppetry skills, resulting in a series finale puppet show.
- Ages: 2 to 5 years
- Wednesdays; 10:30-11:15 (Class Code: HU)
- 9-week Summer Term, June 13th – August 8th
Cost: $90 per term for one child; $135 for 2 children
*Please include your Class Code & phone # when registering.
Register for Hands Up! ($90.00, One person, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Hands Up! ($81, One person, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Register for Hands Up! ($135.00, Two people, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Hands Up! ($121.5, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
DRUMatic!
Utilizing traditional world rhythms, we offer a hands-on approach to helping children discover, play and appreciate the musical “language” of drumming. The drum beat is used to celebrate and communicate with one another around the world, so join us as we tap into the African culture and even learn how to make our own drums and percussion instruments. Let’s celebrate our global citizenship!
- Ages: 2 to 5 years
- Saturdays, , 10:30-11:15 (Class Code: FWD)
- 5 week Summer Term; June 23rd- July 21
Cost: $50 per term; $75 for 2 children
*Please include your Class Code & phone # when registering.
Register for DRUMatic! ($50.00, One person, Helping Hand Members)
Register for DRUMatic! ($45, One person, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Register for DRUMatic! ($75.00, Two people, Helping Hand Members)
Register for DRUMatic! ($67.5, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Yoga Adventures!
story telling yoga
Combining story-telling with yoga movement and poses stimulates your child’s creativity and imagination, as well as promoting muscle development, balance, coordination, rhythm, and body awareness. Using stories and songs from a variety of cultures makes the world a little smaller for young children and reinforces that kids are kids – no matter where they live, what language they speak, or what color their skin is. As we explore India, China, Germany, Egypt, and Native American cultures, to name a few, your child will develop focus, concentration, self-discipline, inner awareness and relaxation skills, as well as gaining self-confidence and self-worth..
- Ages: 3 to 6 years
- Tuesdays, June 5th to August 7th (Class Code: YA)
- 10-week Summer Term; 1o:30-11:15
Cost: $70 per term for one child; $105 for 2 children
*Please include your Class Code & phone # when registering.
years
Register for Yoga Adventures! ($100.00, One person, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Yoga Adventures! ($90, One person, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Register for Yoga Adventures! ($150.00, Two people, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Yoga Adventures! ($135, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Rise & Shine
playful yoga
When presented in a child’s language, yoga can help counter the stress experienced by young people living in a hurry-up world. The integration of creative movement, music, and yoga enhances growing children’s flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness. Children will jump at the chance to assume the role of animals, trees, flowers, and warriors. Whether they bark in the dog pose, stretch like a cat, balance like a flamingo, breathe like a bunny, or stand strong and tall like a tree they’re learning stillness, expanding their imagination, and developing a reverence for all life.
- Ages: 3 to 6 years
- Saturdays, 9:30 – 110:15 (Class Code: RS)
- 10-week Summer Term; June 9th – August 11th
Cost: $100 per term; $150 for 2 children
*Please include your Class Code & phone # when registering.
Register for Rise & Shine ($100.00, One person, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Rise & Shine ($90, One person, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Register for Rise & Shine ($150.00, Two people, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Rise & Shine ($135, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Grossology!
the slimy, smelly science of the human body
Sometimes it’s stinky! Sometimes it’s crusty! Sometimes it’s slimy! But hey, it’s your body! Where does the slimy snot and boogers in your nose come from? How is your food made into poop? Why does throw-up smell so bad? Through this week of anatomical fun kids will get up close and personal with the slimy, smelly science of the human body. As a beginning grossologist you’ll live and breathe science!
- Ages: 4 to 7 years
- Saturdays, 9:30-10:15 (Class Code: G)
- 5-week Summer Term; June 23rd – July 21st
Cost: $50 per term for one child; $75 for 2 children
*Please include your Class Code & phone # when registering.
Register for Grossology! ($50.00, One person, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Grossology! ($45, One person, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
Register for Grossology! ($75.00, Two people, Helping Hand Members)
Register for Grossology! ($67.5, Helping Hug/Heart Members)
*SUMMER TERM SPECIAL!
Register for any two Summer classes and receive a 3rd one of equal or lesser value for 1/2 price! (sorry, but this doesn’t apply to Playful Learning classes)
Don’t need a 3rd class? Give it as a gift to a friend who hasn’t been to the CFEC before with our compliments!
• No need to register here, but during the PayPal process for your second class registration, please let us know you’d like to participate in a 3rd class by noting it in the “instructions to merchant” box. If you’re giving it as a gift, please give us the name of your friend and have them send us an e-mail with their class selection.
Gift Certificates
Experiences are such amazing gifts! Think of all the ways a CFEC gift certificate could be used: a Tummy Time class for a shower gift, a children's series as a birthday present, a parent workshop for a spouse, a membership for a friend. And as a thank you to the purchaser, you'll receive one free class of your choice! Stop by the center today to pick one up for your next special event.
"There are no hands so small that they cannot make a difference in the world."
— Author Unknown
Parent Testimonials
I LOVE the CFEC! Saturday mornings are such a treat for me and Piper! You should be so so so proud of the Center and the people who work there. They are all so nice and I truly feel like I’m visiting my friend’s house every time I go. It’s so cozy and inviting!
— Amanda
Your teachers are second to none!
— Susan
You have created such a warm, welcoming, & supportive space, and it has been such a blessing for us. You are such a wonderful gift to the families of Cincy! We're moving away next week and the CFEC is one of the things we'll miss most of all.
— Silke
I could not have become the confident mother and wife that I am without the center and without the mom's at the center... thank you all so much!
— Sara
Last week when walking in the door of the center for the first time, I immediately felt like I was visiting my sister's house; the atmosphere you have created exudes hospitality. From a new young family to the area - thank you!
— Erica