ATCHISON COUNTY COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Parent As Teachers
Commonly Asked Questions

Why Parents As Teachers?

         We believe that parents want to do what is best for their children but often questions about what to do or when to do it. Most of us did not take classes in infant and toddler development and unlike our car, TV, or video we did not get a manual along with the birth of our baby. We have questions. 

        Many parents find that there is a lot of conflicting information about raising children and want someone they can trust to help them determine what is best for their child and their family. Parents As Teacher's parent educators do not tell parents how to raise their child, believing that parents must decide that for themselves. Instead, they help parents learn :                        

• To observe their child's behavior and learn from what he is doing

• What to expect in their child's behavior at certain ages

• What kinds of activities to do at certain ages that will best help their child grow

• Attitudes and actions that will build their child's self-esteem

• What the research suggests about parenting; facts not myths

• How to solve parenting problems when they arise

How does Parents As Teachers help?

• Personalized visits by a nationally certified parent educator, specifically trained in the development of infants and toddlers and in working with families. 

• Information and guidance on what to look for as their child develops, effective discipline for their child's age and temperament, play activities, and much more!

• Yearly development screenings and general health checklists to make sure that any potential learning delay is discovered by the time the child is three years old.

• Parent gatherings and play times where parents can share their experiences, learn new ideas, and talk about topics of interest.

• Community Resources that can help parents find special services, if needed, that are beyond the scope of PAT.

What difference does Parents As Teachers make?

        From the beginning of the program in 1981 evaluations have been conducted on how well this program works. The evaluations have found that children whose parents were enrolled in this program were significantly advanced over their peers in language and social development, problem solving,, and other skills that are important for starting school. Parents As Teachers parents also knew more about child development and parent practices than parents who did not participate.

How much does it cost and how do I enroll?

        The PAT program is sponsored by local school districts and the Kansas State Legislature at no cost to families. Participation by parents is completely voluntary. To learn more about the PAT program please call your local school district or Northeast Kansas Education Service Center Regional PAT office (785-887-6951). A parent educator will return your call and provide you more detailed information.