LSR7 Parents as Teachers
Fall 2026 Family Newsletter
Now that home visits are underway for the 2026–27 school year, we’d like to share a few reminders to help ensure the safety of our home visitors while also providing families with a positive and quality home-visiting experience.
- Limit distractions; turn off TV's, iPads, etc.
- Put pets in another room or outside during the visit (weather permitting).
- Please refrain from smoking or vaping during the visit.
- Let your parent educator know if anyone else will be in the home during the visit.
- Share any changes that may impact visits (moving, life changes, etc.)
Each program year, our office or your Parent Educator will request the following forms to ensure we remain in compliance with the requirements of the Department of Education, Parents as Teachers National Center, and the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District:
- Enrollment (one per family)
- Health Record (per each participating child)
- Review of Participation Agreement
- Data Share Consent
PAT Program Year: 5/7/2026 - 5/7/2027
Leaf Man
After a nature walk, create something with the leaves you collected.
The Leaf Thief
Leaf Hunt & Sorting: Take a walk outside to gather different colored leaves, then sort them by size, shade, or shape. Press them into a leaf man art collage.
Bear Says Thanks
Gratitude Tree: Cut out paper leaves and ask each child one thing they feel thankful for to hang on the fridge or their bedroom door.
Turkey Trouble
Turkey Disguise Craft: Read book and have preschoolers color or decorate a paper turkey disguised as a farmer, doctor, or superhero.
Handprint Turkeys: Trace each child’s hand on brown paper, then let them glue colorful tissue paper or painted feathers onto the fingers.
Fine Motor Feed-the-Turkey: Glue a large turkey face onto an empty tissue box and let kids "feed" it colored pom-poms using oversized tweezers or clothespins.
Turkey Feathers Fine Motor Activity: Tape the box with brown paper, make a turkey face, and use push-pins on the top to make small holes. Child can push feathers through holes.
Little Blessings Diaper Program
Coldwater provides 50 diapers or 30 training pants each month to families who complete the application process. Families are referred to the program through our community food pantry or through a referral from the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District Early Childhood Programs.
United Way
Call or text 2-1-1
United Way's FREE, confidential, 2-1-1 helpline connects families with local food, housing, utility and holiday resources, 24/7. You can also search online at 211kc.org.
Mid-Continent Public Library (MCPL)
The Mid-Continent Public Library (MCPL) offers FREE early learning programs and literacy resources designed to build school readiness from birth through age five through key early learning programs:
- Grow A Reader Storytimes: Age-appropriate story times focus on five foundational pillars—talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing—through picture books, music, and movement. Specialized options include sensory-sensitive story times. View story times here: Storytimes
- Reading Rocket: Family Literacy Outreach: A mobile and community-focused service that brings story times, kits, and early literacy activities directly to local parks, daycares, and schools. To read more: Reading Rocket
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten: A self-paced reading challenge that encourages families to read 1,000 books with their child before they enter kindergarten. For more information: 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
For a location near you, click here: https://www.mymcpl.org/locations
FREE Developmental Screenings Offered Annually
The LSR7 Parents as Teachers program offers families a FREE developmental screening for all children aged 3 months - Pre-k. Below is a brief description of the screening tools our program utilizes along with expectations:
- Children 3 months - 2 years, 11 months - ASQ/ASQ-SE2 Screening Tool. Families must be enrolled in home visiting to receive this screening as it will be completed by your parent educator during a home visit. The tool covers four areas of development (language, cognitive, motor, and social-emotional). This screening changes as children grow. For example; a screening at 6 months old will look different at 12 months old.
- Children 3 years - 5 years, 11 months - DIAL4/ASQ-SE2. This screening will be completed by your parent educator during a home visit OR at our office by scheduling through our website via Sign Up Genius. This screening assesses skills in the areas of cognitive, language, motor, social-emotional, and self-help skills. *Any child aged 3 years - Pre-k residing within the Lees Summit R7 School District boundaries is eligible for a free developmental screening through our program. Screening Only families are not required to participate in home visits unless a child is participating in Speech Improvement Services (SIS) through our program.
REACH OUT TO YOUR PARENT EDUCATOR OR OUR OFFICE WITH ANY QUESTIONS! 🥰
OPEN to all participating families!
- Friday, August 28, 2026 - Meet Me at the Playground (held on the Great Beginnings Legacy playground) from 9:30 - 11 AM
- Saturday, October 3, 2026 - Meet Me at the Playground (held on the Great Beginnings Legacy playground) from 9:30 - 11 AM
- Thursday, October 15, 2026 - Great Beginnings PTA Trunk or Treat Event (held at Great Beginnings Paradise Park) from 6 - 7 PM
- Friday, February 19, 2027 - Baby Olympics (held at Great Beginnings at Legacy) from 10:30 - 11:30 AM
- Thursday, April 22, 2027 - Meet Me at the Playground (held on the Great Beginnings Legacy playground) from 5 - 6:30 PM
