Historical November 1987 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Giving their child a smart start is one of the reasons parents are enrolling in the Parents as Teachers Program of the St. Louis Public Schools.
This is a free learning opportunity for parents and children up to age three, based on the accepted research that parents are the first and most important teachers of their young children. Parents As Teachers offers home visits by a parent educator who brings information on a child’s phases of development as well as ideas and activities to help parents enhance that development.
She will also discuss issues and concerns a parent may have. Health, vision, hearing, language, and developmental screening are provided. Parent/child centers have a playroom open each weekday and a parent resource library. Group meetings at the center offer information on specific topics such as developing self-esteem, toilettraining, discipline, workshops on making toys and games, and the opportunity to talk with other parents. Lisa Horner, a resident of the SkinkerDebaliviere neighborhood, says of the PAT Program: “It’s wonderful! I wish that more people would take advantage of it!
It was interesting to me because I am an Early Childhood educator but before having my own child I didn’t have any real experience with children from birth through three.” She also likes the developmental information because she has something to which she can refer.
She adds, “It’s helpful to have someone give suggestions and to let me know that everything is really OK.” Several years ago Burton L. White, studying how young children develop and learn, concluded that parenting skills and interaction were critical for optimum development of children.
He designed a home-based program for parents and preschool age children but then realized that the first three years of life are the most important in getting a good start in life. Pilot programs in Missouri have proved the value of this approach. St. Louis Public Schools first offered Parents As Teachers Program three years ago and just this year Senate Bill 658 required all public school districts in the state of Missouri to initiate the program. Educators and legislators from all parts of the United States and Canada are coming to St. Louis to learn more about the program and to see it in action.
To enroll in Parents As Teachers or for further information, call 352-3047 and ask for Donalene Andreotti.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November 1987.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1987_11.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
