Parents create a strong foundation for their child’s success in school and life.

Parents as Teachers

Parents as Teachers is a free home visiting program offered in English and Spanish that teaches parents about early childhood development, increases their child’s school readiness through play, and provides early detection of developmental delays and health issues.

Do you ever wonder about your child’s development?

Parents as Teachers is here to help you learn all about your child’s development and to help you and your child form a closer bond through activities and play. Parent Educators provide activities to promote parent-child interaction and school readiness.

Parent Educators also provide health, hearing, vision and developmental screenings and are here to provide you with resources if any delays are identified. All Parent Educators are certified by Parents as Teachers National Center to provide educational and fun home visits for parents and children!

Parents as Teachers Activities

Activity Idea 1

To help your child’s cognitive and language development - record various sounds around your home, such as running water, a pen clicking, a dog barking, a fan blowing, and other noises you can think of. After each sound ask your child to guess the sound before showing him/her the correct answer. They will laugh with excitement when they are right and giggle if wrong. If you can’t think of sounds, YouTube has several sound videos for kids!

Activity Idea 2

Here’s a great easy way to start puzzle play! Cut a picture your child is familiar with into 4 pieces. Have them put the pieces together to make a whole picture. Once your child masters the 4 pieces, cut it into 6 to 8 pieces. The great news is, you do not have to buy puzzles as you can even use a cereal box.

Activity Idea 3

All you need is a paper plate and a popsicle stick and markers! Draw different faces on half a plate and have the kids talk about each of those feelings and what makes them feel that way! For example: “I see you have a happy face. What makes you happy? What makes you sad? Mad? Frustrated?” This fun activity teaches you about your child’s thoughts about emotions, and is great for social emotional development. It also increases fine motor development as the kids draw the pictures on the plate!

“This program has helped me feel like I have the support I didn't know I already had through family and helped my mindset to become stronger to be a better mother. This program has helped to identify my family needs and to learn from our mistakes.”

PAT Parent Testimonial

How do I Enroll?

Parents as Teachers is a free program for parents who have a child from prenatal to 36 months of age. Once the family is enrolled, services will continue until the child enters kindergarten.

Would you like more information? Call (520) 833-7703 or fill out the online referral form, and we will get back to you shortly!

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Support for Parents as Teachers is provided by a grant from First Things First, which partners with families and communities to give all Arizona children the opportunity to arrive at kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed. Learn more at FirstThingsFirst.org.