KPAT Update

Well, after a strange false start to 2025 with a surprise snowstorm, we are off to the races! It was fun for a bit, but it will be nice to see the sidewalks again, soon 🙂 Our team is excited to bring you some old favorites along with some new programming in the next few months. As a reminder, we are always up for suggestions!

Another fun (NOT) winter visitor is illness! There is a lot going around right now; it's like a funfetti collection of viruses and other illnesses. Our Parent Educators are very mindful if they are feeling under the weather to let you know before your visit so you can make the decision for your own family whether or not an in person visit is a good idea. If you or one of your kiddos are feeling not-so-great, please remember that we can adjust our visit time to include a phone call or video chat instead. Although the pandemic left a lot of us with the "not another Zoom!" feeling, a phone call chat during nap time can really be impactful; it can help connect us until everyone is feeling more themselves.

In closing, here are a couple of highlights we don't want you to miss:

• Kindergarten Registration opens Monday February 3rd! Details will be on the district website, social media pages, or you can ask your Parent Educator for more information. Check here to see what documents and/or information to gather in preparation. As a reminder, children need to turn 5 years old before 8/1 to be eligible for Kindergarten.
• We always knew PAT makes a difference, and here is the research to back it. Participating in our program not only helps in the moment, but has lasting effects!
• Participation in Missouri Parents as Teachers Program

Have a great rest of your week!

The KPAT Crew

Cuenta cuentos para niñas & niños- Bilingual Story Time with Ms. Gaby

Join Ms. Gaby for a story time that is TWICE the fun- stories in both English and Spanish.

We enjoyed our last storytime at the library so much, we are going to finish out the remaining dates there, too!

**NO sign up needed. You know your child(ren) best, so if you have multiple children, you decide which group is best for your family.

FEBRUARY 12TH

MARCH 26TH

APRIL 23RD

Critter Comparisons: February 26th 10-11:30 @ Powder Valley Nature Center

Furry, feathered, scaly, or smooth? All animals have special characteristics that help them to thrive in their habitats. Learn all about the role these characteristics play in the survival of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. **There is limited space for this one; Sign up HERE

All Together Art: March 31 9:30a-11 @ Kirkwood Park-Sugar Creek Pavilion

Join us as we learn and explore the amazing world of art! Tap into your child's inner (or not so inner!) artist. This session we will dive into printmaking! We will read a story, learn a little bit about printmaking and the artists who practiced this medium, and get busy making our own art.

**Free class, but sign up is preferred. It helps us to have plenty of supplies!

Messy Play! Saturday April 12th 9a-11a @ KECC--Save the Date! More to follow soon.

We are going to try something a little different for our Monday Discovery Room open play times in February and March. NO sign up needed! If you are part of our Kirkwood PAT program, just show up ready to play if you would like. We hope this will give some families a chance to pop in that are not always able to sign up in time. Prior to the pandemic, this is how the Discovery Room space was offered. We are continuously looking for ways to improve all parts of our program.

Upcoming open playtime: February 3, 24 & March 3, 10, 31 The time will continue to be 9a-11a.

**PLEASE NOTE: We do have a capacity of about 12 children at a time.

It is possible that it is already at capacity when you show up to play.

In that case, we might ask you to wait to enter if it is too crowded,

so that everyone has an enjoyable experience.**

Spots are still available for screening! Thank you for reaching out to sign up your child for a screening with Parents as Teachers; you have taken the first step. Please fill out this short form and we will contact you with dates and times that are available. You can also always contact us at 314-213-6137 to schedule or for further questions. Our email is always open, too!

For children younger than 3 years old, we will complete the screening on a home visit.

We are excited to announce that we have made space on our campus to house our clothing closet. If you have been to Discovery Room recently, you might have seen things shaping up in the hallway. For the last 8 years, we have been able to offer diapers, clothing, safety equipment, and other items to families participating in our program that could use a hand up. We had been located in a local church; the church was sold and we needed to find a new home. We are very grateful we were able to keep this very important piece of our program. Donations of diapers (size 5 is most popular!) and new infant & children's clothing-sizes 0-8 are always welcomed. If you ever feel called to donate these items, you can drop items off at KECC or with your Parent Educator. In addition, we can always use gift cards to grocery stores, gas cards, or places like Walmart or Target.

Love and friendship are in the air. With that in mind,we are celebrating being KIND this month (although being kind is something to celebrate all year long!). Here are some great ways your family can model and practice this lifeskill together:

Valentine Cards-Glamour Gals

When you sign up, you will receive an email with easy-to-follow instructions, additional card design inspiration, and steps on how to mail your My Dear Friend Cards to a senior home in the GlamourGals network. Please have all cards mailed by February 9th, to ensure your cards make it into the hands of seniors before Valentine's Day.

Cards for Hospitalized Kids (CFHK)

Cards for Hospitalized Kids is an internationally recognized charitable organization that spreads hope, joy, and magic to hospitalized kids across America through uplifting, handmade cards. Your family can help by making cards.

Kindness Challenge (from Doing Good Together)

Make sure to follow your "home" elementary school on social media or call the school for information and upcoming fun events. Generally speaking, these events are best for ages 3-5 years old, and give your family a chance to visit and get to know their potential school destination in a relaxed atmosphere, helps build relationships, and make the eventual Kindergarten transition smoother.

Tillman: Jr. Trailblazers (Next event 9:15a-10a on 2/3)

Westchester (Westchester WEE Ones)

North Glendale

Robinson

Keysor

Check out this IG post by @stl_boymama highlighting summer camps for preschoolers!

New playspace for those inside play days: Totspot Social

Skip to the Lou - Play, Wander + Explore St. Louis with Young Children

Kirkwood Parks & Rec Program Guide

Kirkwood Library

Des Peres Parks & Rec

Have you ever just had a fantastic visit and wish you could share how awesome your Parent Educator is? Maybe there was a challenge they helped you navigate through or you just LOVED the activity they brought. We would be thrilled to hear how we are doing. Please consider letting us know how awesome our Parent Educators are (or anything you would like to share about our program) and give them a "PAT" on the back for a job well done. The submissions are anonymous (unless you choose to share). THANK YOU!

If you are someone that is receiving this email from a friend or family member and would like to enroll in our program, you can do so online HERE, or call our office at 314-213-6137. ANY family within the Kirkwood School District boundaries with children prenatal to age 5 years is eligible to participate in our free program. Check us out!