Parents as Teachers

The activity the child is doing is Chips in a Can an Activity for 14-24 mos.:  Problem Solving and Practicing Eye-Hand Coordination. 

Our Mission:  Parents as Teachers promotes early development, learning, and health of children by supporting and engaging their parents and caregivers.

Children do not come with directions. Parents as Teachers can help.

During the years between birth and kindergarten, there are important times when specific kinds of learning must take place for your child to develop to the fullest. Parents as Teachers can help you capture those windows of opportunity ​so your child starts school ready to succeed.

All young children and their families deserve the same opportunities to succeed. The mission of Parents as Teachers is to provide the information, support, and encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life.

Shawnee Mission Parents as Teachers shares that mission by providing established and emerging research-based information to parents to promote knowledge of early childhood development and best parenting practices, while understanding and appreciating the diverse cultures and traditions of families who reside within the Shawnee Mission School District boundaries.

Parents as Teachers is a voluntary program that offers personal home visits, social activities, playgroups, parenting classes, and various health-related and developmental screenings. The early years of life are critical for optimal development and provide the foundation for success, and parents are their children's first and most influential teachers.

Enrollment Guidelines for Parents as Teachers:

Families enrolling in our program are eligible to participate in monthly home visits in addition to all of the resources and events offered through the SM Parents as Teachers program.  If you don't want home visits, families are invited to attend group meetings, participate in the play center, check out resources from our lending library, receive developmental and hearing assessments.

Our offices are located at the Broadmoor Center - Early Childhood Education - 6701 W. 83rd Street (83rd & Metcalf), Overland Park, Kansas 66204.

In October of 2024, the Shawnee Mission Parents as Teachers program earned their 2nd Blue Ribbon Affiliate Award!  This award affirms we are one of the top performing home visiting affiliates in the PAT National Center's international network. 

The Blue Ribbon Award is given to those with dedicated teamwork, strategic planning, and passionate service to families.    As presented to us by Parents as Teachers National Center , we are recognized as a high-quality member of the home visiting field, implementing the evidence-based Parents as Teachers model with fidelity.  

In order to receive this award, we underwent a rigorous self-study and review process from Parents as Teachers National.  This endorsement process acknowledges our accountability and credibility to the community, its funders, elected officials, and the partner organizations with which they work.  

Play Center InformationThe Shawnee Mission Play Center is a place for parents and children who are enrolled in Shawnee Mission Parents as Teachers. The Play Center is a place for the following:

• Play, bond and have fun with my child.
• Play, socialize, and engage with other friends and families.
• Meet new families with children enrolled in SMSD PAT.
• Explore the outdoor play area if weather permits.
• Talk to a Parent Educator about parenting resources or developmental concerns.

Play Center Rules:

• Please leave food and drink at home.
• Stay with your child and supervise their play.
• Model responsibility and help put toys away.
• Change diapers in the bathroom on the changing table/place in a plastic bag then put in the trash can.
• Clean your hands and your child's hands often.

Thank you for helping make the Shawnee Mission Parents as Teachers Play Center experience a positive and fun time for all families who attend!