The Parents as Teachers (PAT) program is designed to help children from birth to age 3. It supports parents in their most important role — that of being their child's first and most important teacher. No one is more important to a child's development and growth than her/his parents.

The Parent as Teachers program is designed to help parents of children from birth to age 3 to feel more confident in their role as their child’s first teacher. Parents receive research-based information to help stimulate growth and brain development in their children through participation in the various PAT activities.

Numerous independent evaluations generate the following results for families participating in Parents As Teacher programs all across the country: 

• PAT children at age three are significantly more advanced in language, social development, problem solving, and other cognitive abilities.
• PAT parents are more involved in their children's schooling; parental involvement is highly related to a child's success in school.
• The positive impact on PAT children carries into the elementary school years; PAT children score higher on kindergarten readiness tests and standardized measures of reading, math and language in the early grades.
• PAT parents are more confident in their parenting skills and knowledge; they read more to their children, which is a key factor in preparing children for school success.
   

Services

PAT provides individualized child development information through  

• personalized home visits
• drop-in play groups  
• warm-line telephone service 

Contact Information

Parents as Teachers office: 847-888-5000, ext. 6003