Anyone else doing Parents as Teachers?

KCKSarah

Just wanted to post that I love, love, love this program.  From the great books they bring us to the suggestions for play time, this is great for first time mamas.  A parent educator visits your house once a month or so from birth through the start of kindergarten.

Some (but not all) of the curriculum can be no brainer stuff for me, but I am sure its great for the people that need it.  And there are people that need it.  Yesterday, I visited a friend from high school who is kind of clueless.  His daughter is 2.5 months old and he wanted to know what I thought about asking people to get her flash cards for Christmas.  Hmmm.....maybe a little soon for flash cards, but you know whatever you want to do, man.  Each visit they talk about your child's developmental markers and offer games and ideas for toys appropriate for that age level.  Some programs even offer play groups.

It never hurts to get new ideas and a fresh perspective from someone that is versed in child development.  It's free and provided through your local school district.  Anyone else participating?

 <Edited to fix some of my atrocious grammar>

psumel13

Never heard of this but sounds like a great idea! I wonder if we have something like this here?

KCKSarah

psumel13: I think its a nationwide program, check your school district.

softskate: Too bad they only accommodate SAHMs.  The program here works with a variety of schedules.  

I think mandatory home visits are an infringement of rights. However, calling parent educators from this program a government official is a bit of a stretch.  They are no more so a government official than a teacher in a classroom.  Both are fpositions funded by tax dollars, so in that sense you could call them government employees (though no teacher I know considers themselves as such).  Sure, parent educators are mandated reporters, but coming from social service background myself, I have an overall trust in how that system works.

psimpso

Parents as Teachers is a national nonprofit org...and it's not a govt program so no worries there. It's been around for almost 30 years. Check out https://www.parentsasteachers.org/location to find a program near you in every state. Great parent support!