Parents As Teachers

What Is Parents As Teachers?

As a parent, you are your child's first and most important teacher. You begin teaching your baby prenatally through your touch and your voice. Parents As Teachers is a family education and support program that begins prenatally and continues through kindergarten entrance. Parent Educators translate scientific information on early brain development into concrete suggestions and activities for you to teach and nurture your child.

Parents As Teachers is a free program for the Carthage R-9 School District. We serve over 1,450 children from prenatal through kindergarten entry. Our goal is help parents prepare their children for school. We offer free screenings and referrals to preschool and other services. Parents As Teachers started in Missouri in 1984 and is mandated to be in every school in the state. It is in all 50 states and several other countries. Carthage has one of the strongest programs in the state and nation as recognized by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Parents As Teachers National Center.

Development Research

Brain development research shows that up to 80% of all learning we do is in the first formative six years, starting at birth. We put developmental materials and books in parents' hands to work with their children and tie them into the appropriate community resources to help them be the best parents they can be. We work with children in making sure they are meeting appropriate milestones and getting any needed early intervention along the way.

Lending Libraries

On April 18, 2018 the Early Childhood and Parents As Teachers students and staff joined the Carthage Literacy Council, the Chamber of Commerce, district administration, school board members and community members for the ribbon cutting of Carthage's fifth lending library. Anyone can borrow books! Lending Libraries are located in front of Early Childhood, Columbian, YMCA, by Chamber of Commerce and North of Grace Episcopal at Howard and Chestnut.