Your baby begins learning at birth. As a parent, you are your child’s first and best teacher. What you teach your child in the first few years of life, helps him or her succeed in school and throughout life.
Parents as Teachers of LaPorte County (PAT) can help you give your baby the best start in life.
What is PAT?
PAT is a free, voluntary program for parents with children from prenatal to age five. It teaches parents ways to encourage their child to learn. PAT uses the research based Born to Learn Curriculum which is informative and easy to follow.
This nationally known program, which started in Missouri, has spread throughout the United States. It has now reached thousands of families from all walks of life.
How can PAT help my family?
Parents as Teachers of LaPorte County provides a range of services to help you become your child’s best first teacher and the best parent you can be.
Personal Home Visits
The personal home visit is the key component of the Parents as Teachers program. During these visits you will work with a parent educator who will:
- Increase your confidence and competence as a teacher of your child
- Improve your knowledge of child development
- Improve your observation skills
- Work with you to apply this new knowledge
- Prepare you for what’s coming next in your child’s development
Play Groups
You’ll learn to interact with your child. Your child will develop social skills and will learn how to learn.
A Link to Community Services
Gain access to other programs that might help your family.
Screenings
Help ensure that your child does not have any undetected learning, hearing, vision, or development problems.
How does PAT help children?
A 1985 independent evaluation of the PAT program showed that children who participated were significantly more advanced than other three-year-olds. They were better at language development, problem solving and other intellectual skills.
A 1989 follow-up study of this group found that PAT children in first grade were more advanced, as measured by teacher evaluation and standardized tests of reading and math. In addition, parents who participated in PAT were far more active in their child’s school than other parents. A 1991 study of a broader group confirmed these results.
Parents as Teachers of LaPorte County is made possible in part through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education designating Dunebrook as an Indiana Parent Information Center.
Parents as Teachers of LaPorte County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin or ancestry.
For more information regarding Parents as Teachers, please contact Brandi Lewis at (219) 874-0007.
Parents as Teachers Staff List
For information on PAT Trainings and Technical Assistance, please click here.
