PARENTS AS TEACHERS; MODEL PROGRAM CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

Two-year-old Madison Blankenship cut scraps of paper to decorate a construction paper Christmas stocking as her mother, Teresa, watched.

The two were participating in the monthly story hour, one of the projects of Cape Girardeau's Parents as Teachers program. "I'm gluing!" the toddler cheered.

Missouri's Parents as Teachers program has been helping parents of preschoolers for 10 years. The program, mandated by the state, is provided through public schools to parents of children from birth to 3 years. Missouri was the first state to implement parent education in public schools.

Trained parent educators visit homes of the children, offers information on child development and suggested activities for different ages.

In Missouri, nearly 70,000 families participate each year. The program has been a model for similar parent education programs throughout the country and overseas.

Blankenship said the information makes parenting a little less stressful.

"When you know developmentally what to expect, it makes dealing with the stages a little easier," she said. "Two year olds can be moody. When I know to expect that, I can respond so much better."

Blankenship also enjoys the parent meetings held once a month at Commerce Bank. Children have a chance to play with others and parents have a chance to talk. The bank is an Adopt-a-School partner to Parents as Teachers.

Connie Ponder said as a mother of three, she, too, appreciates information. Her third child, Matthew, is strong willed. "He is completely different than the other two," she explained.

The parent educators explained that many 2-year-olds have strong wills. "They explain that this is normal, even though it may not seem normal to you," Ponder said. "From what I understand, he is a typical two-year-old. I was just blessed two times before."

Stephanie Fridley and her 10-month-old son, Nathan, jingled car keys in time with "Jingle Bells." "I like these story hours best," she said. "I meet other moms and he gets to meet other children."

Fridley, a first-time mom, also feels a level of reassurance that Nathan is developing fine. "They check his progress. It makes me feel that he's doing all right."

Susan Bartlett coordinates the program in Cape Girardeau and has been a parent educator for 10 years. "It's wonderful to see the children as they grow," she said. "It's also wonderful to watch the parents as they grow. I've seen first-time parents develop into experts."

The goal of the program is to provide information for parents. Games and toys that children will enjoy and information about community services that are available. The parent educators often offer a dose of reassurance also.

"It's wonderful for parents to see so many things we struggle with as parents are developmental. These are stages," she said.

Bartlett said many parents who have been involved in Parents as Teachers remain involved in their child's education through PTAs and other leadership roles.

Cape Girardeau schools also offer a school-age version of Parents as Teachers called Practical Parenting Partnerships, coordinated by Michelle Dewrock.

When children enter school, parents sometimes have a tendency to stop participating in education.

Dewrock said parent participation in education is important throughout a child's school career. The Practical Parenting Partnership plans activities for parents and children to do together.

The program also shows children that their parents consider education important.

Parents who are interested in participating in parent education programs should contact their public school.