KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Parents as Teachers is a program that’s been around for more than three decades. The program has adapted to the different challenges parenthood presents during trying times.
For one family, the Duins, the program has helped them feel that they’re not alone. The Duin family says they turned to Parents as Teachers when they had their second kid, Jack.
“It was the perfect way to figure out if he was tracking against milestone,” said Anna Duin.
“Transitioning from one kid to two kids, Jack was born with health issues, so we were going through a lot.”
Parents as Teachers is a free program for parents of infants to three-year-olds. It includes at-home visits, working on different skill sets, group play time and giving parents someone to go to with any questions they have.
Two dead after multi-vehicle crash involving school bus in Clay County “It was really invaluable for Kristen to weigh in on different strategies for potty training,” said James Duin.
James was talking about Kristen Younger, a parent educator who got involved with Parents as Teachers after being in the program herself. Working with kids, many of whom were either born during or after the pandemic, she stresses the importance of quality time.
“10 to 15 minutes a day interrupted, no screen time, and just how you follow your child’s lead,” said Younger, educator at Blue Valley Parents as Teachers.
“Let them feel safe, let them feel seen.”
That’s just one example of how these educators support parents. Their mission extends beyond that, creating a safe and secure environment for kids, which is why they partnered up with Raising KC – a public health campaign that focuses on how adults can prevent toxic stress for kids.
“It was a natural partnership for us to join with them because it’s the heart of what we do as well, we just believe parents are their first and important teacher,” said Blue Valley Parents as Teachers program coordinator Michelle Kelly.
Red, White and Blue Springs carries on through rain forecast The Duins agree, that’s why they want other families to know about the program and how it’s helped them understand their best will always be enough.
“They’re parents,” said Anna Duin.
“They get it, they remember how hard it was.”
You can find more information about Parents as Teachers by visiting your child’s school district website.
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