Parents as Teachers
by P.A.T.
January 12, 2009
P.A.T. (Parents As Teachers is a voluntary, state funded program that helps parents become their child’s first and best teacher. Through personal visits, group meetings, and screenings, parents are provided with a multitude of developmental information for their infant or preschooler. If delays are identified in a child or the family needs extra aid, the P.A.T. program also serves as a resource network for the family.
The personal visit is the core of the Parents As Teachers program. During a personal visit, the parent educator goes to the home and provides developmental information, has discussion with the parent, provides an age-appropriate parent/child activity, and provides information on parenting issues. Infants from birth to three years of age visited 4 or more times per school year. Because of increased state funding, 3-5 year olds are offered limited home visits this year.
Group meetings are another asset of the P.A.T. program. Usually group meetings are held at school. Parents or parents and child gather together for a presentation, a discussion, or an activity. P.A.T. families are encouraged to attend group meetings. Several times a year, we try to have a field trip. An annual favorite is a trip to The Pumpkin Patch. Some of the other group meetings this year are, Breakfast with Santa, Easter Egg Hunt.
P.A.T. also offers developmental, health, hearing, and vision screenings. Generally, once per year from six months to Kindergarten entry, your child is screened free of charge. The screening is held at home until age three. Then screenings are administered at Lincoln County R-II School.
Dawn Stone is the coordinator of the P.A.T. program and also serves as a Parent Educator. Deana Zimmermann also works along side Dawn Stone as a Parent Educator.
If you live in the Elsberry school district area and would like more information about Parents As Teachers, contact the P.A.T. program at 573-898-5554 ext. 257 or by email PATRII@elsberry.k12.mo.us. Become a partner with the school district in making you the best he/she can be.
