Hollister Parents as Teachers

Screen Free Week is May 3-9, 2021. Hollister PAT will be supporting parents throughout the screen free week with ideas to engage your child's mind and help break unhealthy habits in the home. Our society makes going screen free difficult, but not impossible! Can you go for one week without screens? Do you want your child to use devices less? Do you know the negative impact that technology could be having on your child's development? Learn more in the upcoming weeks or go her...e to make a commitment: https://commercialfreechildhood.org/screen-free-week/.

We have a busy and exciting week for families in Hollister PAT this week! Tuesday, April 13, 10:00-Coffee Talk at Vintage Paris Wednesday, April 14, 10:30- Walk With us Wednesday at Shepard of the Hills Fish Hatchery... Thursday, April 15- Kindergarten Roundup- sign up for appointment https://www.hollister.k12.mo.us/260877_2 Saturday, April 17- Revive 65- volunteers clean up and beautify the City of Hollister Hope to see all of our families soon. If you aren't already enrolled in Parents as Teachers, enroll here: https://www.hollister.k12.mo.us/256784_2

One of the components of Parents as Teachers is connecting our families to resources and we love doing that! This resource is just too valuable, so we are sharing it with everyone. If you are a parent, grandparent, child care provider, someone thinking of starting a child care business, etc., check out the One Stop for Early Childhood. http://ccozarks.org/theonestop/

We have been unable to offer seated Love and Logic classes this year, but Conscious Parenting classes are being offered! Follow the instructions below to learn more.

Walk With us Wednesday is cancelled due to rain. Hope to see you all next week at Shepard of the Hills Fish Hatchery.Walk With us Wednesday is cancelled due to rain. Hope to see you all next week at Shepard of the Hills Fish Hatchery.

Walk With us Wednesday, 01/06/21, will be at Table Rock State Park. We'll meet by the pavilion to begin our walk at 10:30.Walk With us Wednesday, 01/06/21, will be at Table Rock State Park. We'll meet by the pavilion to begin our walk at 10:30.

It is often the littlest moments that are magical for young children. Embrace those moments! They can't be bought or planned, they just happen when you spend time with your child. "Ooooh mommy look, a tunnel!" - L.P.

Meeting up with friends to create connections and fun while being active and learning.

Walk With us Wednesday, December 16, at 10:30- Chad Fuqua Memorial Park- Hot chocolate provided!Walk With us Wednesday, December 16, at 10:30- Chad Fuqua Memorial Park- Hot chocolate provided!

Walk With us Wednesday, December 9, at 10:30- Dewey Short Visitor Center. Moms, dads, kids, grandparents, and friends are welcome!Walk With us Wednesday, December 9, at 10:30- Dewey Short Visitor Center. Moms, dads, kids, grandparents, and friends are welcome!

Did you know that cooking from scratch with your child promotes healthy heating and learning in every developmental domain? -Start simple to set yourself up for success. Cooking and eating is a sensory experience that should always be kept positive. -Picky eating can begin as early as 18 months, so making food fun by including your toddler in the kitchen is a proactive step to take early. -Mealtimes should be social opportunities to teach manners, conversations skills and s...hould encourage independence. -The amount of food your child needs could vary each day, so remember it’s the overall pattern that is important. -Teach your child to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full so they learn to self-regulate. -Cooking at home is less expensive than eating out and healthy eating can be very budget friendly. -Holiday cooking can be a time to incorporate learning and family traditions. What is your favorite holiday recipe? What do you remember about cooking or meals when you were a child? What memories do you want to create for your child?

Penguin Story Stone supplies have been, or will be, delivered to our families this week. Enjoy this simple craft while creating language development opportunities with your child. Share pictures and stories with your parent educator. If you aren't a Hollister PAT participant yet please join today at: https://www.hollister.k12.mo.us/256784_2

Walk with us Wednesday tomorrow will be at North Beach Park in Branson at 10:30 am. Dress warm!Walk with us Wednesday tomorrow will be at North Beach Park in Branson at 10:30 am. Dress warm!

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." -Joseph Addison

Family traditions are as unique as families. Please take a moment to reflect on how you make special memories with your child throughout each season. Traditions can be simple or complex, but they are always special. Happy Thanksgiving from Hollister PAT! We are thankful for great parents like you!

Did you know there is currently an epidemic causing developmental delays in babies called Container Baby Syndrome? CBS, as it is commonly referred to by educators, doctors and physical therapists, is 100% preventable. Containers include infant carriers, pillows, floor seats, high chairs, walkers, swings, etc. Some of these are safety necessities, but overuse is the problem. The American Academy of Pediatrics even called for a ban on walkers in the US. Risks of CBS are motor... delays, flat spots on the head, tightening of the neck muscles, and more. What you can do to prevent CBS: *Use a car seat only when in the car. *Use a high chair only when it is mealtime. *Choose safe tummy time for play time. *Hold your baby. *Choose a safe floor play option where your baby can move freely such as a play pen instead of a walker. Ask your parent educator for more information or read on nationwidechildrens.org

It's Wednesday! Come walk with us at 10:30 at Stockstill Park in Branson. We will meet at the parking lot on Stockstill Lane.It's Wednesday! Come walk with us at 10:30 at Stockstill Park in Branson. We will meet at the parking lot on Stockstill Lane.

Enjoy this silly turkey story!

Walk with us Wednesday, November 11 at 10:30 at Sunset Park. Bring the littles or bring a friend! Looking forward to seeing you all there. 36.637145,-93.231588 (GPS coordinates in case you haven't been there before.)

Walk with us Wednesday is tomorrow (11/4) and should be much better weather than we had last week. Meet us at the Dewey Short Visitor Center parking lot and we'll walk the Table Rock Lakeshore trail from there. Parents, grandparents, caregivers and friends are welcome!

"There are many little ways to enlarge your world. Love of books is the best of all." - Jacqueline Kennedy Enjoy books with your child every day. Here's one of Miss Traci's favorites.

Walk With us Wednesday, 10/28/20, will be at Table Rock State Park. We'll meet by the pavilion to begin our walk at 10:30.Walk With us Wednesday, 10/28/20, will be at Table Rock State Park. We'll meet by the pavilion to begin our walk at 10:30.

What a beautiful day it was to take a walk! If you have time to stop by the Chad Fuqua Memorial Park in Hollister the Little Library is bursting full of books to borrow.

Tomorrow is Walk With us Wednesday. We are meeting at Chad Fuqua Memorial Park in Hollister at 10:30 and hoping for no rain.Tomorrow is Walk With us Wednesday. We are meeting at Chad Fuqua Memorial Park in Hollister at 10:30 and hoping for no rain.

Did you know that speech language pathologists, pediatric dentists and doctors agree that some sippy cups are detrimental to your child’s growth and development? As your child outgrows the need for suckling (between the age of 12 and 24 months) he or she needs to change the way their mouth is used. Parents and caregivers can help! Follow these suggestions for healthier development of social-emotional skills, muscles, teeth and speech. 1. Ask your child if he or she is thirst...y, if so, have a drink. Offer water in between meals from an open up or a flexible straw. 2. Keep drinks at the table. Carrying a drink around causes problems like spills, tooth decay, and forms habits of consuming calories and sugar one is not thirsty or hungry. 3. Offer open cups at every meal time. Babies and toddlers who can sit up and eat from a spoon can learn to drink from an open cup with help. Children should remain seated when eating meals and, therefore, are more likely to have success with an open cup. Offer small amounts of liquid in the open cup at first and gradually decrease how much you help with the cup as your child develops more control. Read more about these topics here and call your parent educator to discuss your concerns. https://www.healthychildren.org//Discontinuing-the-Bottle. https://pediatricboulevard.com/a-speech-therapists-guide-t/ https://leader.pubs.asha.org//sippy-cups-3-reasons-t/full/

This week (10/14) our Walk With us Wednesday will be at the Branson Rec Plex walking trail. We will meet at Pavilion D at 10:30.This week (10/14) our Walk With us Wednesday will be at the Branson Rec Plex walking trail. We will meet at Pavilion D at 10:30.

Did you know that all childhood behavior is a skill or a lack of a skill? Have you ever said, or heard, any of following: My child is acting really mean. He’s hitting and biting us, saying, I hate you. and spitting at people. This might sound like terrible behavior, but when we see it as a lack of skill, we can see it as a teachable moment. There are many components to teaching socially-acceptable behavior. Parents as Teachers can be your partner and provide many resources for teaching the skills your child needs to reach their full potential.

Keep little ones safe when you’re cooking! Create a kid-free zone of at least 3 feet (1 metre) around the stove and areas where hot food or drinks are being prepared or carried. #FirePreventionWeek #HollisterTigers #HSDbettertogether

Today is Wednesday! Put on those walking shoes and come walk with us at Table Rock State park at 10:30.Today is Wednesday! Put on those walking shoes and come walk with us at Table Rock State park at 10:30.

Walk With us Wednesday, October 7, 10:30 will be at Table Rock State Park Lakeshore Trail, beginning on Marina Rd.Walk With us Wednesday, October 7, 10:30 will be at Table Rock State Park Lakeshore Trail, beginning on Marina Rd.

What do I mean when I say all feelings are welcome, not all behaviours are welcome? One key skill for building emotional resilience is learning to get comfort...able with emotions. ALL of them. But being comfortable with negative emotions doesn’t mean foregoing emotion regulation. Not all behaviour is appropriate, and sometimes, we need to sit in an emotion without fixing or taking it away. A part of allowing a negative emotion means not needing to change a boundary in order to contain it. But we can still have behavioural expectations. On the weekend, we had a birthday party for my son (turning six). He was given a stack of coloured cups to hand out. At first, he sat and tried to work out which person would like which colour. Then he stopped, shuffled them, and walked around the table handing them out in their random order. He got to his brother and paused. He KNOWS that this brother’s favourite colour is blue. He looked at the pile of cups, and the top one was orange. He took it, passed it to his brother and said You get what you get and you don’t get upset. If you scream and you shout then you’ll just miss out. Curious, I asked where he had learned that rhyme. He told me they say it as school when handing out items, in order to stop whining over favoured colours, and prevent the chaos of haggling and swapping. That’s interesting, I said, but sometimes, if I don’t get what I want, I AM disappointed. I DO get upset. Don’t you? Yes, but you’re not MEANT to! my son replied. Hmmmm actually, I think when something is upsetting, you’re allowed to be upset. Being disappointed when you miss out on something isn’t the WRONG feeling. Is it? I had all of their attention now. The eldest chipped in, Yeah, but if you whine about it, you’ll get in trouble and just miss out. But you’re not in trouble for being disappointed you’re in trouble for the whining, aren’t you? I guess. We talked about calm down strategies we can use when we are feeling upset, like deep breaths, and reminding ourselves about small problems vs big problems. Then my three boys set about writing a better rhyme. It’s longer than the original, but I think they did a great job. (Note: they use brave as a simplification of dialectical thinking the idea they can be both upset AND okay.) You get what you get And you might get upset. If you don’t get your fave You can practice being brave. Breathe in and breathe out You don’t need to shout. If you don’t get your way You can still be okay.

We are unable to host the Walk With us Wednesday this week. We encourage our families to enjoy the fall weather by meeting at the Chad Fuqua Memorial Park in Hollister at 10:30 on September 30. The paved walking path is perfect for strollers and tricycles! Your child can even borrow a book from the Little Library while you are there! Hope to see you all next week.

Did you know that one way to promote healthy speech development in young children is to practice good oral hygiene? Baby teeth are important: 1. To help chew and speak 2. To hold space for adult teeth... 3. To aid in jaw and face formation Take good care of your baby's new teeth by brushing with a smear of fluoride toothpaste, establishing a dental home by age 1, and don't share drinks (cavities are contagious!) The last thing that should touch your baby's teeth at night should be a toothbrush! Talk to your parent educator about other ways to help your child develop on target. If you do not have a parent educator yet, message us today. We are enrolling!

Walk With us Wednesday, 9/23/20, at 10:30 is planned for White River Mountain Boulevard. We'll meet near the office of the apartment complex and walk through the parking lot to the neighborhood down the street. If it rains we will cancel and plan to meet there on 9/30/20 instead. Hope to see you on our walk tomorrow!

Walk with Us Wednesday is here!!! Looking forward to seeing you all at 10:30 in the Keeter Heights neighborhood.Walk with Us Wednesday is here!!! Looking forward to seeing you all at 10:30 in the Keeter Heights neighborhood.

Announcing a new PAT event: Walk With Us Wednesday! We can't have playgroup, but we can still get together (6 feet distancing, of course) and we can't wait to see your faces! Beginning September 16th at 10:30 we'll be visiting walking friendly neighborhoods around the district. So, put on your walking shoes, get out the strollers or wagons and we'll see you next Wednesday! Our first location will be Keeter Heights. If you don't live in the neighborhood and want to join us by car we'll meet up in the parking lot of Hollister First Baptist Church at 136 Hillbilly Lane. Looking forward to our first get-together in many months!!

Hollister PAT is happy to announce that we are now offering some in person services! With safety in mind, we have made a plan to resume personal visits and screenings. If you have a parent educator she will be in contact to let you choose services that fit the comfort level of your family. (Virtual will continue to be an option for everyone.) If you are new to PAT and ready to enroll please contact our office to learn more. [email protected] or 417-243-4058

Play is learning! Get out there and swing with your child for giggles and brain development!

Crafty ways to make tooth brushing more fun!

Virtual visits are a great way to stay in touch with PAT! We miss you all and would love to see if your family, even if only virtually. If you would like to set up a virtual visit please email, text or call your parent educator. Here is a short example video to see if a virtual visit would be comfortable for you.

We at Hollister Parents as Teachers send a special thank you to our local heroes!

A very good example of why worksheets are not the best learning tool for young children. Keep providing hands-on play to strengthen those chubby little fingers as they grow and know that you are supporting your child's learning the right way!

Great ideas from our friends at Kom Hot Yoga

Words of wisdom for the day, (and some perfect parenting advice) from one of my favorite YouTube families... "Every day is not perfect, just do your best."- Tricia, Keep Your Daydream

Go outside and play!!

Hollister Parents as Teachers wants to encourage all of our families to celebrate Week of the Young Child by checking out daily activities provided at this link. We want to always remember that children ARE our FUTURE! Have fun with your child while learning together today and every day!

Children are resilient...are they really? In fact, children are only as resilient as the adults around them. Do you have extra time on your hands today? This is a long video, 31 while minutes! And, likely some new, and valuable information for parents. If you are dealing with stress in your life (and hey, who isn't) please take time to listen to Dr. Becky Bailey. This is well worth half an hour!

Having a listening ear helps all parents during this stressful time. Please schedule a virtual visit with Traci, Allyssa or April. We are here to help YOU!

Please contact your parent educator if you are in need of any resource. We are here to help our families during this stressful time.

Hello to all our PAT families! We miss you and hope you are well. Remember, your parent educator is just a phone call, text or email away. Reach out if you have questions or need support. Hello to all our PAT families! We miss you and hope you are well. Remember, your parent educator is just a phone call, text or email away. Reach out if you have questions or need support.

Hollister PAT will begin scheduling virtual visits using the platform Zoom. If you are interested please install and set up a Zoom account.

Meal distribution begins tomorrow, Sunday, March 22. Parents do NOT need to bring their children. #HollisterTigers #HSDBetterTogether Hollister High School Hollister Middle School Hollister Elementary School Hollister Early Childhood Center

Hoping spring break is treating you all well! We have an update that PAT can provide virtual visits throughout the recommended social distancing period. Your parent educator will be in touch to see who would like to participate.Hoping spring break is treating you all well! We have an update that PAT can provide virtual visits throughout the recommended social distancing period. Your parent educator will be in touch to see who would like to participate.

Hollister, MO. Monday, March 16, 2020 - The spread of COVID-19 in our region requires schools districts to be flexible and make decisions that are in the best i...nterest of public health. In consultation with health department officials, the following PK-12 school districts will close through Friday, April 3. Blue Eye Branson Forsyth Kirbyville Hollister Reeds Spring Taneyville These districts are currently on spring break; therefore, students will not return as previously planned on March 23. Closure impacts all extra- and co-curricular activities, including athletic competitions, practices, and after-school programs and events. Our school district understands that this is a very uncertain time for everyone, but the public can be certain of one thing: districts are focused on protecting the safety and well-being of students, staff, and their families. As this unprecedented situation continues to evolve, additional modifications may be necessary. As decisions are made, districts will share information through regular communication channels. Families play an important role in protecting individuals from the spread of COVID-19 and are encouraged to follow the guidance of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Please watch for further information to come over the next week.

The attached message includes all PAT home visits and play groups. Please check this page for updates, we will share them here as they come our way. We'll be miss our PAT families, but hope you stay well, enjoy time with your kids. Read books, get outside to play and enjoy spring.

Early development of community identity is important for helping children feel like valued members of a group. Research shows that volunteering contributes to increased happiness. Save the date for this perfect opportunity right here in Hollister!

Hollister PAT Little Free Library is open just in time for Dr. Seuss's birthday! Woohoo! Come borrow a book at the Chad A. Fuqua Memorial Park. Some are old, some are new, they are all waiting here for you!

Join us for Dr. Seuss Night! Thursday, March 5, from 6:00-7:00 pm at the Hollister Early Childhood Center gym. Fun activities will be available for toddlers through 5th grade.

Take a break from negative phrases (that children tend to challenge or ignore) and try these positive replacements! At your next personal visit tell your parent educator a story of what worked for you and what didn't.

No playgroup today. Enjoy a cold (snowy?) day at home with your kids! See everyone next Wednesday!No playgroup today. Enjoy a cold (snowy?) day at home with your kids! See everyone next Wednesday!

Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. Theodor Seuss Geisel WRITER, CARTOONIST, ANIMATOR (A.K.A. Dr. Seuss) Enjoy those moments!!!

Playgroup is today, January 22, at 10:30, but be aware that winter weather may be upon us. Please stay safe!Playgroup is today, January 22, at 10:30, but be aware that winter weather may be upon us. Please stay safe!

Save the date for our January events: Playgroup-Wednesdays from 10:30-11:30 Family Circus Night January 23, 6:00-7:00 pmSave the date for our January events: Playgroup-Wednesdays from 10:30-11:30 Family Circus Night January 23, 6:00-7:00 pm

Just a reminder that there will be no playgroup on December 25 or January 1st. Enjoy the holidays with your family and please join us on January 8th for the first playgroup of 2020!!!Just a reminder that there will be no playgroup on December 25 or January 1st. Enjoy the holidays with your family and please join us on January 8th for the first playgroup of 2020!!!

The impact parents have on a child's developing brain starts before birth. Do you know how to build your child's brain to be sure they reach their full potential? Parents as Teachers is ready to partner with you to encourage and support you on your parenting journey. Contact us today and enroll before your baby is born to receive a gift to support early attachment between you and your baby.

Due to the inclement weather our office will be closed today. Please contact your parent educator if you had a visit or screening today and they will happily reschedule. Be safe today and enjoy a snow day at home with your little one.

Gingerbread Night is coming up quickly and we are ready! Thanks to Mr. Edwards, Julian Narvez, and all of the Hollister High School cabinet members who built 100 houses in one hour!! Please join us on December 12th for some winter fun and entertainment by our preschool classes. Concert begins at 5:40. Bring one package of edible decorations to share.

Does your child need preschool? This is a great opportunity for children in our area. Head Start serves families in Hollister, Branson, Forsyth and more! Call one of the numbers below to find out more. Spots will go quickly, so call ASAP!

Don't miss our upcoming family night!! Mark your calendar now!

A quick reminder: No Playgroup November 27th. Happy Thanksgiving to all!! PAT is thankful for caring and committed families!A quick reminder: No Playgroup November 27th. Happy Thanksgiving to all!! PAT is thankful for caring and committed families!