Program Partners with Parents to Strengthen Families

 

Parents as Teachers Works with Families to Boost Children’s Learning



Cheyloh, Tre and Ciel work on an activity together  during

a home visit from Jodie, their Parents as Teachers parent educator.

 

A year and a half ago, Cheyloh Hamilton, a single mother of two energetic young boys, was working two jobs, cooking over a wood stove, and had a house in dire need of repairs. She didn’t have it easy, but she was dedicated to giving her two sons, Ciel, now 4, and Tre, now 3, the best she could. Since 90% of a child’s brain develops before the age of five, Cheyloh wanted to make sure she could give the boys the experiences they needed to grow and learn to their full potential.

One day, when she was volunteering at the Community Pregnancy Center, Cheyloh learned about Parents as Teachers, a free home visiting program of Arizona’s Children Association. Through the program, which is made free for families with children ages 5 and under through a grant from First Things First, families receive visits every two weeks from their personal parent educator, who offers individualized parent education, provides tips and activities to help their children grow and learn, and connects the family to any other community resources available to them.

This was exactly what Cheyloh was looking for. “I wanted a program to help the boys with their learning and development,” Cheyloh said. Now, she and her boys look forward to visits every two weeks from Jodie, their Parents as Teachers parent educator. Every time she visits, Jodie gives Cheyloh information sheets on the boys’ stages of development and brings inexpensive activities she can do to boost their cognitive, social, physical or behavioral skills.  “We love the whole program,” said Cheyloh. “The activities have helped the boys with their development, speech, and many other skills.”

With the help of the program, Cheyloh and the boys have set aside family time each day dedicated to reading and learning.  Parents as Teachers has also helped Cheyloh develop skills to parent her two very different boys. Ciel is sharp-minded and calm, whereas Tre is more adventurous and sensitive. Cheyloh wants to make sure that she nurtures their individual personalities and strengths. “Parents as Teachers is based on your child, wherever they’re at and whatever they need,” Cheyloh said.

Parents as Teachers has also personally helped Cheyloh, who sometimes suffers from anxiety, with the challenges of being a single mother. “It’s helped me get through this past year and a half,” said Cheyloh about the program. “Parents as Teachers has had a big impact. It brought our family together, connected us to resources, lessened my anxiety and strengthened my parenting.”

Cheyloh is grateful for her partnership with Parents as Teachers as her boys continue to grow, and recommends Parents as Teachers to all families with young children that she knows. “Many people don’t know about Parents as Teachers, but I believe more people need this,” said Cheyloh.

If your family has a young child age 5 or younger and you would like to enroll in Parents as Teachers, please call 1-888-771-3435 X 2026. The program is completely free and available in both English and Spanish.