CHAFFEE PAT WILL SCREEN CHILDREN

CHAFFEE - The area's Parents As Teachers organization will hold its screenings of 1- to 3-years-olds next month.

The organization also serves Delta, Kelly, Kelso, and Scott City.

The screenings will be held March 10 at the Scott City Elementary School; March 17 at the Parents As Teachers office in the high school Arts Building at Chaffee; and March 24 at the Kelly Elementary School.

Though free, an appointment is necessary. To make an appointment, parents should call the Parents As Teachers office by March 10 at 887-6920.

The organization has changed the format of the screening in the hopes of making it more efficient and reliable.

The screening is broken into two components. The hearing, vision, dental and health portions will be done at a scheduled time at school. Parents should allow 30 to 45 minutes for the first component.

During the second component the parent educator will screen the child to determine where he or she is in the areas of expressive and receptive language and personal-social, fine motor-adaptive, and gross motor skills.

If a child is within the normal ranges, the screening will provide parents with the knowledge of his or her overall development. If not, it will enable parents to obtain help immediately, which should result in higher academic success.