The Early Childhood Lab School offers ongoing enrichment and entertainment opportunities to all families with young children living in Davis and the surrounding communities. Family Programs include education and community building for parents and caregivers, along with opportunities for learning and developing through play for babies, toddlers and two-year olds. Parents/caregivers attend playgroups with their children. Parenting discussions are built into the program to ensure that parents and caregivers have access to information and opportunities for reflection that help them feel prepared for the inevitable challenges we all face during the early childhood years. 

The ECLS family classroom is located in Eichhorn Family House (152 Old Davis Road), which is nestled between the Early Childhood Lab School's main site and the arboretum path. 

For questions about family programs, contact Sierra Armién Funk, Family Coordinator at sarmienfunk@ucdavis.edu or (530)754-3469.

Parent-Baby Playtime is an opportunity for your child to interact with the world outside the home, including other babies, engaging age-appropriate toys, songs and fingerplays. 

Parenting discussions are casual and take place as the babies explore. Topics are determined by the concerns and questions that participants are facing. Other topics of discussion depend on the ages represented in the group, and may include the benefits of uninterrupted floor time, the importance of crawling, and strategies for raising bilingual babies, among many others. 
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Parent-Baby Playtime (0-12 months)

Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00 am

October 8-November 26, 2024

Eichhorn Family House 

152 Old Davis Road

Davis, CA 95616

$170/family

Growing Together Family Playgroups are designed to provide opportunities for open-ended exploration and problem-solving. Toddlers and two-year-olds practice looking for more toys, trading and taking turns as they play in the classroom alongside other children their age. Parents and caregivers practice coaching their child in alignment with age-appropriate expectations, and learn about their child’s strengths, challenges, and preferences as they play. Child-directed play takes place for 50 minutes. Playgroup concludes with 10 minutes of music and movement and a story, which provides a smooth and clear end to each session.

Tiny Toddlers (12-18 mos) 

Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 am

October 8-November 26, 2024

Totally Toddlers (18-24 mos)

Wednesdays 9:00-10:00 am

October 9-November 27, 2024 

Two Year Olds (24-30 mos)

Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 am

October 9-November 27, 2024

All playgroups meet at Eichhorn Family House

152 Old Davis Road

Davis, CA 95616

$170/family

Virtual Parenting Discussion Groups give parents and caregivers the opportunity to dig deep into parenting joys and challenges. Participants in the family playgroups have access to a weekly discussion group that takes place via Zoom where they share challenges and strategies, develop supportive relationships with other parents, build up their repertoire of child development concepts, and reflect on their own parenting practice. Virtual parenting discussion groups include such topics as early childhood development, raising bilingual children, practicing co-regulation, responding to challenging behavior with positive limits, temperament, and many others.

Participants select from one of the following times:

Tuesdays 1:00-2:00 pm

Wednesday 1:00-2:00 pm