Independence School District Parents as Teachers

10/30/2026

🎃👻 A SPOOKTACULARLY SAFE HALLOWEEN! 🦇🍬

Halloween is full of costumes, pumpkins, trick-or-treating, and LOTS of excitement! As your little ghosts and goblins get ready for a fun night, here are a few tricks to keep the treats safe, too! ❤️

🕸️ A few Halloween safety tips for families:

🎃 Costume Check!

Make sure costumes fit well and aren't too long to trip over.

Choose face paint instead of masks when possible so little ones can see clearly.

Add reflective tape or glow sticks to costumes and treat bags to help children be seen.

👻 Stay Safe on the Trick-or-Treat Trail!

Always accompany young children while trick-or-treating.

Hold little hands when crossing streets.

Use sidewalks and crosswalks whenever possible.

Carry a flashlight and stay in well-lit areas.

Remind children to walk, not run!

🍬 Treat Time!

Check all candy and treats before little ones dig in.

Look for opened wrappers, unfamiliar items, and potential allergens.

Remember that hard candies, gum, popcorn, whole nuts, and small treats can be choking hazards for babies and toddlers.

🦇 Home & Pumpkin Safety!

Keep walkways clear of decorations, cords, and tripping hazards.

Use battery-operated candles or glow sticks inside pumpkins instead of open flames.

Keep pets safely secured and watch little ones around unfamiliar animals.

🚗 A Reminder for Drivers:
Slow down, put away distractions, and watch carefully for little trick-or-treaters, especially in neighborhoods and near intersections!

❤️ A little reminder from your Parents as Teachers team: Halloween doesn't have to be perfect to be special! Follow your child's cues, take breaks when needed, and enjoy making memories together. Sometimes the best Halloween fun happens right at home!

Wishing all of our PAT families a safe, happy, and SPOOKTACULAR Halloween! 🎃👻🧡

Have fun out there, and don't forget to share your favorite Halloween memories with us!

10/27/2026

🚂🎟️ All aboard, PAT families! 🎟️🚂

Our PAT Ride the Rails event at the Missouri Model Railroad Museum is coming up, and we don’t want you to miss out! ❤️🚂

Join us for a fun morning exploring trains, enjoying a scavenger hunt, checking out the Kids Depot, and making memories together! 🚂✨

📅 Tuesday, November 17, 2026
⏰ 10:00–11:00 AM
📍 Missouri Model Railroad Museum
312 W. Pacific Avenue, Independence, MO 64050
🎉 FREE family event!

🎟️ Please RSVP soon! We want all our PAT families who would like to join us to have the opportunity to participate. Don’t wait until the last minute—you don’t want to miss out! ❤️

👉 Scan the QR code on the flyer to RSVP!

We can’t wait to see you there! 🚂💙

10/14/2026

🚂❤️ All aboard for a fun morning with ISD Parents as Teachers!

Join us on **Tuesday, November 17, from 10–11 AM** at the Missouri Model Railroad Museum for our *Ride the Rails* group connection! 🚂

📍 **Where:** Missouri Model Railroad Museum
312 W. Pacific Avenue, Independence, MO 64050

We’re looking forward to spending the morning together exploring the trains, enjoying some hands-on fun, and making memories with our PAT families! ❤️

🎟️ **Please RSVP using the QR code on the flyer** so we know to expect you!

Independence School District Parents as Teachers-- Ride the Rails at Missouri Model Railroad Museum

We’re so excited to see everyone there! 🥰🚂

10/13/2026

💛 **Every parent deserves support, and every child deserves a great start!** 🌱

Did you know that **Independence School District Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a FREE program for ALL families** living within the district boundaries with children from pregnancy through kindergarten entry? 🏡✨

Through PAT, we partner with families to support their child’s growth, development, and learning!

🌟 **When you join PAT, you can receive:**
🧸 Personal home visits with a Parent Educator
💛 Information and support about your child’s development
📋 Developmental screenings
🎨 Fun family group connections and activities
🤝 Resources and referrals to help support your family

You are your child’s first and most important teacher, and we’re here to support you along the way! 💕

📣 **READY TO SIGN UP?** Scan the QR code on our flyer or visit the link below to learn more and enroll!

🔗 https://www.isdschools.org/parents-as-teachers

✨ **FREE for all families within Independence School District boundaries!**

Know a family who could benefit? Please share this post and help us spread the word! 💛

09/29/2026

🧠💛 **Big feelings + a still-developing brain = BIG toddler moments!**

Toddlers are learning so much every day—including how to manage emotions, control impulses, and “put on the brakes.” Even when they *know* the rule, their growing brains are still developing the skills needed to stop themselves in the moment.

**Try this practical strategy:** When your toddler is overwhelmed, get down on their level, stay calm, and use a few simple words:
👉 “You’re mad. I won’t let you hit. Let’s take a breath together.”

Then help them calm their body before talking about the behavior or expectation. With practice, repetition, and your support, they gradually learn to manage those big feelings on their own. 💛

Remember: **they aren’t giving you a hard time—they’re having a hard time with a skill that is still developing.**

As Parents as Teachers, we love helping families understand the amazing little brains behind those big behaviors! 🧠✨

Check out this **Baby Brain Map** to learn more about how your child’s brain is growing and developing:
👉 https://bit.ly/4y5nGa2

Self-control takes time to grow. Toddlers have big feelings, but the parts of their brain that help manage emotions, behavior and impulses are still developing.

“Putting on the brakes” can be especially hard. They may know they shouldn’t grab your phone or hit when they’re frustrated, but knowing the rule and stopping themselves are two different things.

Curious about that amazing little brain? Explore our Baby Brain Map to learn more: https://bit.ly/4y5nGa2