Parents as Teachers Program

Online Enrollment Form

Call Collette Miller at 913-856-3074 or Click Here  for the on line enrollment form

Kids don’t come with directions.  Parents As Teachers can help.

As a child's first teacher, a parent can make a difference.

During the years between birth and 3 there are important times  when specific kinds of learning…language, social and emotional development, motor skills…must take place for your child to grow and develop to their fullest potential. Parents As Teachers, a parent education and family support organization, can help you capture those windows of opportunity so your child starts school ready to succeed.

Parents of children younger than 36 months can join this free program that is personalized to meet the needs of individual families. The program is part of the National Parents As Teachers program and follows its curriculum.

Being a parent is a hard job and is the most important job parents will ever have. And as a parent, you are your child’s first and most important teacher.

This free voluntary program is designed to help Gardner/Edgerton families in the following areas:

PAT SERVICES

Personalized Home Visits are made by a certified parent educator trained in child development and educated in the latest brain research on early learning. During these informal 60 minute visits the parent educator shares age-appropriate growth and development information and gives the parents practical and concrete suggestions on ways to manage challenging behaviors. Special time is given to focus on a parent-child activity that will enhance the parent-child relationship and encourage learning.

Playgroups for parents and children are offered on Tuesday and Thursday at the PAT Play Center.

•  Tuesday 10:30-11:30
•  Thursday 9:00-10:00
•  Playgroups are located at PAT Office/Play center at:  Nike Elementary School  19500 S Gardner Road
•  PAT follows the school calendar and the Play Center is closed when school is not in session.
•  Play groups start the first week of October and end the last week in April.

Group Meetings: meet monthly allowing parents to share experiences and discuss parenting topics. 

•  Baby Signing Class:  4-13-10, 11:30-12:30, PAT Playroom Call for reservations, 856-3066.
•  Baby Massage:  4-3-10, 10:00-11:00, PAT Playroom Call for reservations, 856-3065.
•  Toilet training:  4-1-10, 6:30-7:30, PAT Office (child care provided)  Call for reservations, 856-3064.
•  Love and Logic:  1-30-10, and 2-6-10,  Must attend both sessions :9:00-12:00 Nike Library Call for reservations: 856-3064.
•  Gross Motor Nights:  Nike Gym 6:30-7:30, 11-12, No Dec., 1-14, 2-11, 3-11, 4-8-10.
•  PAT follows the school calendar and Group Meetings will be closed when school is not in session.

Developmental Screenings can help parents identify any potential concern before it becomes an obstacle to the child’s development. If additional help is needed, the PAT staff provides referrals. The screenings can be done during home visits or on parent request; children are screened for hearing, vision, language, motor skills, intellectual and social development. PAT newsletter helps families stayed informed of upcoming events and provides ideas and articles for encouraging a child’s development. For your child to recieve a developmental screening, contact Vicky Harmon at 913-856-3035.

Program contact:

Vicky Harmon, PAT Coordinator
913-856-3035 Email: harmonv@usd231.com

Additional contacts:

Carol Vawter - Parent Educator
913-856-3065Email: vawterc@usd231.com

Collette Miller -Parent Educator
913-856-3074Email: millerc@usd231.com

Ann Rogers - Parent Educator
913-856-3064 Email: rogersa@usd231.com

Kathy Holtorf - Parent Educator
913-856-3066 Email: holtorfc@usd231.com

PAT OFFICE FAX - 913-856-3054

Additional resources:
Child Safety:  www.familywatchdog.us
City of Gardner Parks & Recreation:  www.gardnerkansas.gov
Consumer Product Safety Commission:  www.cpsc.gov/recalls
Family Fun magazine:  www.familyfun.com
Family Meals focus Newsletter:  www.ellynsatter.com/newsletter.htm
Johnson County Libraries:  www.jocolibrary.org
Kansas Action for Children:  www.kac.org
Kansas Parent Information Resource Center:  www.kpirc.org
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:  www.nhtsa.gov
PAT Support Organization:  http://www.kpata.org 
PAT Parenting tips:  www.parentsasteachers.org
Parents Action for Children:  www.parentsaction.org
Safe Kids:  www.safekids.org
Safe Ride for Child Passenger Safety: www.carseat.org

Mops: www.gardnerfbc.org/women_MOPS.php