Children + Parents + Teachers = Success
A look inside our parenting classes at Adelante Mujeres
Imagine a world where children, parents, and teachers have solid and compassionate relationships; where parents recognize the value of being involved in their children's education as an essential factor for their kids' successful development of cognitive and social skills. This vision inspired our Family Engagement Program to adopt the Parents and Children Together (PACT) sessions as a part of the curriculum.
We recently had the fantastic opportunity to learn more about PACT by talking with Graciela Chavez, a Family Facilitator at Adelante Mujeres. She explained that PACT is based on the belief that parents are a child's first and best teachers, which is why it focuses on helping parents prepare their children for a good start. PACT is one of several parenting resources the Family Engagement Program at Adelante Mujeres facilitates, intending to strengthen families' learning and well-being.
"Through the sessions, Latinx parents receive guidance and support for learning positive strategies to improve their parenting skills from our trained facilitators," said Graciela. All the PACT activities are customized for child-centered cooperation and problem-solving, resulting in an innovative and successful resource that increases parents' awareness of their role as first teachers at home. The interactive aspect of PACT sessions encourages parents to think outside themselves and focus on their children.
What a PACT Session Looks Like
Before the pandemic, parents visited Adelante Mujeres classrooms and carried out activities there. During the first fifteen minutes, the facilitators explained the activities. After that, they became observers and stayed in the room to offer support in case the parents needed assistance.
Due to Covid restrictions, the PACT dynamic forcibly changed. Currently, in collaboration with Adelante Mujeres Early Childhood Education teachers, Graciela develops bi-weekly activities focused on the child's stage that help parents better understand the learning process in which their children find themselves. The team sends each child home with a kit for the parents to conduct the session, including DYI materials, bilingual guides, and a video tutorial. Graciela also mentioned that simple things such as practicing colors, counting using toys, and incorporating new vocabulary allow parents to connect with their children and encourage them to share and enjoy quality playtime without distractions like cellphones and tablets.
Why are parenting classes important?
Graciela says, "In early childhood, stimulation and learning come mostly from play, and PACT activities encourage children to get the most out of the playtime because parents are actively there. In this safe space, talking, listening, and interacting, children develop emotional skills that help them understand who they are and recognize themselves as an essential part of their community." These social and emotional skills set the children up for healthy and resilient lives in the future.
Graciela emphasizes, "We noticed that children of parents who take part in the sessions often show an increase in their social behaviors” (e.g., cooperating, sharing, listening). She and her team see the impact the classes have on the parents also, hearing from them that PACT has helped them connect better with their children.
Benefits of PACT:
• Promotes research-based home activities to build positive and responsive relationships between parents and children
• Nurtures effective parenting practices to support children's development and learning
• Improves children's social and emotional skills
• Fosters enriching parent-child learning experiences based on children's age interests and strengths
• Includes guidance to support specific aspects of curriculum implementation
• Supports children's physical and mental development.
• Helps parents to develop their potential as teachers at home
Graciela and other members of our Family Engagement team are hoping to ramp up participation within their PACT sessions, as well as the other parenting classes that are offered at Adelante Mujeres. Every child and parent in our community can benefit from parenting classes like PACT, and Graciela’s hope is that we can spread that message far and wide. When it comes to setting up a child’s life for success, it’s never too early to start.
Interested in taking a parenting class at Adelante Mujeres? Contact our program lead, Sara Santigo, for information about enrolling at ssantiago@adelantemujeres.org
This work is fueled by people like you. If you like to support Adelante Mujeres, click here to invest.