Did you know that most brain development happens within the first five years of life? One way to give your child a head start in life is participating in the Parents as Teachers program.
The Parents as Teachers program, also known as PAT, is a free and voluntary program available to all families in the Bernie school district who are expecting or have a child up to the age of five, but have not yet entered kindergarten.
The components of the program include personal visits, screenings, and group activities. You can participate in as many or as few aspects of the program as you wish, even though all components are important and participation in all is encouraged.
Screenings check overall development, language, hearing, and vision. These screenings are NOT to diagnose delays, but to detect potential problems, if any.
Early detection of potential problems in these areas prevents difficulties later in school. If problem(s) are detected, your parent educator will refer you to other professionals who specialize in these areas.
Group activities will be open to all families whether you participate in any other aspect of the program or not. Many times these activities will take place along with other community events, such as the Bernie Fall Festival and Breakfast with Santa. At these times, we will have activities for the children and allow parents to get together, share common concerns, and gain new insights.
Children who participate in PAT have been shown to:
• Be more advanced in language development.
• Be more advanced in problem solving, along with other intellectual skills.
• Be further along in development than their peers.
• Be more prepared for kindergarten.
Also, PAT parents are more involved in their children’s schooling - - parental involvement is highly related to a child’s success in school. And the list of benefits goes on!
Bernie school district’s parent educators, Courtney McGarity and Paige Williams, are also kindergarten teachers here at Bernie. They understand the benefits of this program first hand and are excited to be a part of it.
Remember that you are your child’s first and most important teacher. PAT wants to assist you in giving your child the best possible start. Please call or email Mrs. Courtney McGarity or Mrs. Casey Arnold to set up your first appointment.
Appointment times are limited, so please don’t delay! You can also find us on Facebook! Contact them at 573-293-5335 ext. 293 or email them at
