Helping parents become the teachers

PRINCETON — Parents are their child’s first and most important teachers, according to Marcia Caldwell and Lynn Ferrell.

Caldwell and Ferrell are parent educators with the Early Beginnings Parents As Teachers program for the Princeton Elementary District. The free program, which is funded through the Illinois School Board of Education, is entering its 13th year at PES.

Due to funding cuts by the state, adjustments are being made to this year’s program, Caldwell said.

In previous years, the program was universal, open to all expectant parents and parents of 0 through 3-year-old children in the PES District. Last year, the program served about 140 families. With the 2009-10 school year, the state has placed new regulations for eligibility for the program. An estimated 40-50 families will be served this year, Caldwell said.

These new regulations will provide more in-home parent contact for support, Caldwell said. Also, a focus on developmental check-ups completed with parents will help provide parents with the information to give their child the best start.

“Our priority continues to be offering a program that provides a variety of learning opportunities for parents and children, including parent workshops, support groups and parent/child interaction play groups,” Caldwell said.

An open house for the current school program was held recently at the program site, located within the Douglas School building at 220 E. LaSalle St.

The stated goals of the program are to increase parent knowledge of early childhood development, improve parenting practices, provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues, prevent child abuse and neglect, and to increase children’s school readiness and school success.

Ferrell said the program follows a set researched-based curriculum, which tackles a variety of early childhood growth and developmental issues. The PES program will continue to provide a variety of learning opportunities for parents and their children, including parent workshops and support groups and parent/child play groups.

Other services of the Parents As Teachers program include a library resource center, developmental check-ups for the children, and personal visits by the coordinators with the family. Caldwell and Ferrell also offer resource referrals to other opportunities and services within the community. They have also developed a teen parent support group outreach.