Parents as Teachers: Incredible Resource for Parents

Fox C-6 School District offers a valuable resource for parents wanting guidance during their children's development.

Parents as Teachers is a free program run through the school district that is available to any parent in the area with children from prenatal to school age. The program helps assess the development of children and teaches parents to assist in their children's learning.

“What we offer is pretty important,” Parents as Teachers Director Cheryl Winkler said. “It’s for parents to learn about their child’s development. Not only when it is going to happen, but what age is appropriate for different things, how it is going to happen, and how to promote that,” she said.

This is achieved through home visits. A Parents as Teachers coordinator visits  parents' homes and plays games with the children.

“A child’s job is really play,” Winkler said. Games are designed to reveal children’s learning capabilities while allowing children to enjoy playtime.

Amy Petty heard about the program through a friend, and both her children began participating after they were born. “I liked the way they are very helpful and do a bunch of tests at the house. I really like our coordinator,” she said.

The program is literacy based. Many of the activities focus on reading and word recognition. The coordinator visiting a home home will also evaluate children for developmental problems.

“I like the idea that they catch it early so they can be more prepared when they enter school,” Petty said.

Winker said the program evaluates the children's gross and fine motor abilities, cognitive, language, speech and a hearing and vision screening. The tests will tell parents if their children are developing properly.

The program also offers information for new parents. “It's good for the first-time mom, too because they teach you everything, like when and how to feed them and how and when to let them sleep,” Petty said.

The program is not a new one. Parents as Teachers began 27 years ago. However, the program strives to have the most knowledgeable coordinators giving parents the best information as possible. Parents have access to handouts, websites and other information after joining the program.

It is a universal program which does not consider parental income. "It’s for everybody. Our goal would be to see every child in the Fox C-6 District from baby until they start kindergarten,” Winker said.

Petty says she would recommend Parents as Teachers to anyone, “All of my friends that have kids, I’ve told them to sign up.”