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Parents as Teachers

Parents as Teachers hopes that all children will learn, grow and develop to realize their full potential.  Ringgold County PAT is here to share evidence-based information and resources to empower families to support their child’s development in the first crucial years of life.

YOU are your child’s first and most influential teacher!  We want to help you set a foundation for success in school and in life for your child.  Parents as Teachers will help you build skills and use tools to be more involved with your child’s education.  You will learn how to connect with them through play and reading while becoming more confident as a parent or guardian.

What Does PAT Offer?

Parent Educators

A parent educator will visit you in your home. Your parent educator will work with you to determine the needs of your family.  Together you will look at your child’s development, talk about parenting challenges, discuss family dynamics, and build strong protective factors to keep you and your child healthy, strong and resilient.  Your parent educator is there to share with you well-researched information to guide you in decision making and problem solving as you learn ways to strengthen your relationship with your child.

Periodic Screenings

Developmental screenings are performed regularly to make sure your child is healthy, safe and developing on track.  If there is a delay found, early intervention is key.  Your parent educator will link you with supporting services.  It is our goal that no child will begin school with an undetected delay.

Resources Network

A network of resources that can help you with special services you may want.

Group Meetings

Group meetings where parents come to a central location to meet with other parents, hear experts speak on parenting topics, or share interesting activities with their child. Group meetings provide a chance for you to meet other parents of young children.

What Can You Expect from PAT?

  • Parents as Teachers will inform you of what you can reasonably expect of your child at each stage of development.
  • Parents as Teachers will help you be a good observer of your child.
  • Parents as Teachers will help you have fun playing with your child and show you age-appropriate activities and materials.

Remember, Babies Are Born to Learn

Parents as Teachers is a good beginning for every child. In their earliest years, children learn more than at any other time in their lives. Parents need to know how to make the most of these crucial early-learning years, giving children the best possible start in life. PAT from Ringgold County Public Health can help lay a strong foundation for a child’s future success.