Parent Connections

National Parents as Teachers Day is Saturday, November 8th! We still need your responses!

We're getting a head start on making our Parent Educators feel extra special. If you have a testimonial to share, captured a sweet moment with your Parent Educator, or simply want to give a shout out to the team, we'd love to hear from you!

Please send your messages or photos to us by November 6th so we can compile them into a meaningful celebration. You can send them to: ParentsAsTeachers@nkcschools.org. Let’s show our appreciation for the incredible work they do every day!

Our Parent Educators complete developmental, hearing, and vision screenings for most children each year. These screenings are a requirement of DESE and help support our program’s funding. If your child has an IFSP or IEP, your Parent Educator will discuss which screening tools are best for your child.

A screening is a quick check that provides a general overview of your child’s development and helps identify areas where they may need additional support. Screenings begin as early as 3 months of age. In Parents as Teachers, we use the ASQ-3, ASQ-SE, and DIAL-4 for developmental and social-emotional screenings.

An assessment is a more detailed tool that looks closely at what a child can do compared to other children of the same age. It provides a deeper understanding of their skills and areas for growth. In Parents as Teachers, we use the Bracken-4 as a kindergarten readiness assessment with children beginning at age 4.

1. Keep your bedtime routines consistent: Follow your regular bedtime steps. Predictable routines give comfort and signal to the body that it's time to rest, even if the clock says otherwise.

2. Use natural light to your advantage: Get outside in the morning sunlight as soon as possible able waking - it helps reset the body's circadian rhythm and keep the lights dim in the evening.

3. Stay flexible and patient: It may take 3-5 days for your child's body to fully adjust - some adjust faster, others need a full week. Offer extra comfort, and avoid new transitions at the same time.

Gratitude with young children is about helping them notice and appreciate the people, experiences, and small joys in their everyday lives. For young children, it can be as simple as saying “thank you,” recognizing kind actions, or noticing nature together. Practicing gratitude:

• Supports Emotional Development
• Strengthens Relationships
• Helps children feel more positive and connected.

1. Model Gratitude: Point out things to appreciate such as "I'm so happy we get to play outside today".

2. Read books about Gratitude: Short stories with themes of sharing kindness, and thankfulness help children understand the concept.

3. Use Routines and Rituals: Incorporate gratitude into daily life, like saying something you're thankful for at mealtimes or bedtime.

4. Encourage expression: Offer ways for children to show thanks - like hugs, drawings, or verbal acknowledgements.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 Cup of Ketchup
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
• 2 tubes (10-1/2 ounces each) large refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
• 1/2 Cup cubed Velveeta or any cheese you have.

Directions

• In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles.
• Drain
• Stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Remove from heat.
• Press each biscuit onto the bottom and up the side of a greased muffin cup. Spoon beef mixture cups; top with cheese cubes. Bake at 400 degrees until cups are golden brown, 14-16 minutes.

Date: Tuesday, November 4th, 2025

Time: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Location: *NEW* Virtual Session!

Join us for a Parent Education Night focused on screen time. We’ll explore how screen use impacts early learning and development, share recommendations for healthy limits, and provide practical strategies to create balance at home. Come gain tips and tools to support your child’s growth in today’s digital world. This session will be offered VIRTUALLY on Teams!

Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location: NKC Early Education Center, 6479 N. Prospect Avenue, Gladstone, MO 64119

Join us for the next series in for Books & Beyond where we’ll explore several books by Todd Parr with fun, hands-on activities for children ages 0–5. Families will enjoy interactive play that builds early literacy and social-emotional skills. This special evening is a chance to read, play, and learn together!

Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location: NKC Early Education Center, 6479 N. Prospect Avenue, Gladstone, MO 64119

Join us for Snow Much Fun: Winterfest, a family evening filled with hands-on activities, crafts, and play for families in Parents as Teachers. Families will enjoy winter-themed experiences that support learning and connection while making memories together.

Date(s): December 1

Time: 9:30 am - 10:30 am

Location: Mid-Continent Public Library, Antioch Branch - 6060 N. Chestnut Avenue, Gladstone, MO 64119

Our Infant Playgroups are back! This year, we will hold our (almost) monthly infant group connections at Mid-Continent Public Library - Antioch Branch. Our infant-toddler playgroups are intended for families with children under 18 months old. It will be a time for families to connect with one another and babies to interact with each other. All while talking about parenting! Sign up for the dates that work best for your family. We hope to see you there!

Our Toddler Playgroups were made for families with children ages 18 months to 3 years. Join us for an opportunity for families to meet each other, children to start forming friendships, and discover different parenting topics each month.

Dates: Wednesday, November 19, December 10.

Time: 9:30 am - 10:30 am

Location: Macken Park, 1002 Clark Ferguson Drive, North Kansas City, MO 64116.

Please note: Families should meet at the play structure off of Howell Street.

Kansas City Ballet is thrilled to present a performance of a sensory friendly Nutcracker for neurodivergent children, families, and adults.

Date: December 4, 2025

Time: 6:00 PM

Cost: $25.00

To purchase, call Kansas City Ballet Ticket Office at 816.931.8993

Due to the potential impact of lost SNAP benefits, the government shutdown, and furloughs, we have created a centralized document compiling SNAP Replacement Resources. If you need support or resources to help your family during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Parent Educator.

The Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program (LIWAP) provides homeowners and renters with cost-effective, energy-efficient home improvements free of charge through Community Action Agency of Kansas City.

Thank you to Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, all children under the age of 5 in Missouri are eligable for a free monthly book to the child each month. Sign up for your free books today!

Clay County Health Department offers a monthly mobile food pantry with free, fresh and healty food. The pantry is the first Wednesday of every month from 3:00-4:30 PM, while supplies last. While the purpose of the event is to provide fresh and healthy foods to those in our community who might otherwise not be able to afford all the nutritious food their family needs that week, anyone is welcome to get food at our events. No proof of need is required. You can also pick up food for other people.

Pickup is at

Clay County Health Department

800 Haines Drive, Liberty, MO 64068

WIC Approved Food List changes start October 1, 2025. All participants will receive the same amount of food with the same nutritional value each month! Participants will continue to receive the higher dollar amount for fruit and vegetable purchases each month! Check out the Clay County Health Department's website for more information!

We still have openings for families! Know someone with young children?

If you have friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors who live within the North Kansas City School District boundaries and have children under 5, send them our way! We’re currently enrolling families for the 2025–2026 school year.

We are always looking for families and our best recruitment is YOU! Invite a friend to come learn about PAT.

Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a free and voluntary program for families who reside in the North Kansas City School District with children prenatal to age 5 (pre-kindergarten).

Email: parentsasteachers@nkcschools.org

Website: https://www.nkcschools.org
Location: 6479 North Prospect Avenue, Gladstone, MO, USA
Phone: (816)321-5453

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/NKCParentsAsTeachers/photos/?ref=page_internal
Twitter: @NKCPAT