Parent Connections
NKC Schools Parents as Teachers - September 2025
Our team is now 15 strong, and we’re hoping to grow to 16 this year! Interested in becoming a Parent Educator? We still have a full-time Parent Educator position open. Visit the NKC Schools careers page to learn more and apply.
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.
National Parents as Teachers Day is Saturday, November 8th!
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 the end of October 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!
The Power of Routines
As we settle into back-to-school season and fall rhythms, September is the perfect time to talk about the importance of routines. You’ve probably heard your Parent Educator mention this once or twice—and for good reason! Predictable daily routines—like regular mealtimes, consistent bedtimes, and simple morning rituals—help children feel safe and secure. When children know what to expect, they’re more likely to feel calm, confident, and cooperative.
Routines also:
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Build self-regulation skills
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Encourage independence
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Make transitions (like bedtime or getting dressed) smoother for everyone
Routine vs. Schedule
It’s helpful to understand the difference between a routine and a schedule:
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A routine is the order in which things happen (e.g., bath → books → bed).
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A schedule is when things happen (e.g., bedtime at 8:00 PM).
While schedules are important for healthy development—like ensuring your child gets enough sleep—routines offer the predictability and structure that help children feel in control and supported.
Tip for Parents
Start small! Choose just one routine to focus on—like bedtime—and keep it consistent: bath, pajamas, a book, then bed. Simple, repeated steps each night can make a big difference in your child’s emotional security and cooperation.
Glues on Strike
Glues on Strike is a humorous children's book that imagines what happens when all the glue in the world decides to stop working, throwing classrooms and craft projects into chaos.
Chicka Chicka Book Boom
September 2nd is World Coconut Day! With colorful illustrations and catchy rhymes, it’s a fun and memorable way for children to learn their ABCs.
Ten Red Apples
A counting book about a farmer and his animals who each take an apple from a tree until none are left. This book is perfect for toddlers learning to count and identify farm animals.
Apple Fun!
Create a tasty fall treat with apple slices, Sun Butter (or peanut butter if there are no allergies), and raisins! Let your child practice spreading the Sun Butter on the apple slices and adding their favorite toppings. Raisins are great, but you can also try granola, mini chocolate chips, or a sprinkle of cinnamon. A delicious way to build fine motor skills and enjoy the season!
Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: NKC Early Education Center, 6479 N. Prospect Avenue, Gladstone, MO 64119
Join us for a magical evening inspired by Eric Carle’s beloved classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar!
Families and little ones are invited to crawl into a world of color, fun, and learning with hands-on activities and storytime celebrating the hungry little caterpillar's big adventure. Perfect for children ages 0-5. Whether you're a fan of the book or discovering it for the first time, this night promises to be sweet, silly, and full of learning! RSVPs are required for this event. Please sign up using the Sign-Up Genius. This event is only for enrolled participants in North Kansas City Schools Parents as Teachers program.
Join us for a Parent Information Night with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (also known as a Car Seat Safety Inspector)! Learn essential tips about car seat safety and receive a free car seat safety check.
Please note:
This event is for parents and guardians enrolled in the Parents as Teachers program.
Childcare will not be provided.
Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: NKC Early Education Center, 6479 N. Prospect Avenue, Gladstone, MO 64119
Celebrate the beauty of fall and the wonders of nature at our Books & Beyond event, inspired by Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert. Families with young children are invited to explore the life of a tree through engaging storytelling, hands-on art, and outdoor discovery. Following a read-aloud of the book, participants will take part in themed activities that bring the story to life. RSVPs are required—please sign up using the Sign-Up Genius link provided. This event is exclusively for families enrolled in the North Kansas City Schools Parents as Teachers program.
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!
Date(s): Monday, August 18, September 8, October 13, December 1
Time: 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Location: Mid-Continent Public Library, Antioch Branch - 6060 N. Chestnut Avenue, Gladstone, MO 64119
We heard you! Last year's survey showed you wanted more toddler-specific group events—and we're making it happen! Our Toddler Playgroups are specially created for families with children ages 18 months to 3 years.
Dates: Wednesday, September 17, October 15, 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.
Clay County Health Department Family Fun Day
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: Macken Park, North Kansas City
This is a family-friendly event hosted annually by Clay County Public Health Center. The purpose of Family Fun Day is to present a wide variety of ways local families can incorporate wellness habits in their daily lives to improve health.
Local vendors and community partners host booths or tents with fun activities for kids, plus helpful resources and information for adults. All booths cover topics like: physical activity, nutrition and healthy eating, safety, mental health and wellness, education and literacy, healthcare resources and more.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
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 Mobile Food Pantry
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
About Us
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