Thread: The PAT program

The Parents as Teachers Program (PAT) is an early parenting program of [url=http://www.excellenceintheclassroom.com/]Texas Education[/url] that provides comprehensive services to families from the third trimester of pregnancy until the children are three years of age. It is designed to instill in parents the skills they need to maximize the learning potential of young children. In this [url=http://www.excellenceintheclassroom.com/]Texas Education[/url] program, parents learn about child development including how to encourage language development, intellectual growth, and social and motor skills. The program also aims to improve the parent-child relationship.

The PAT [url=http://www.excellenceintheclassroom.com/]Texas Education[/url] program provides these services through four types of interventions:

1) Home visits by certified parent educators
2) Group meetings where parents can receive support from other parents as well as gain knowledge of developmental issues
3) Screening of children for developmental delays
4) Referrals to community services.

Children and parents take part in many activities including Play and Learn Times. The parents usually make something that they will take home with them to use with their children (e.g. props for storytelling, toys, puppets). The children direct their own play ("learning"). There are several stations that the children can choose from including a dramatic play station (such as a kitchen for role playing), an art station with colors, books, and more. During this [url=http://www.excellenceintheclassroom.com/]Texas Education[/url] program, parents are given suggestions on providing a rich learning experience at home. Parents are provided handouts and feedback that will help them to ensure that their children's developmental "windows of opportunity" are not missed.