Parent University Kicks Off with Free Playdate

Raising kids is a mission we as parents take on, but are rarely fully prepared for. To get through the challenges of the day, it requires the guidance of parenting experts and the camaraderie of our fellow parents who have been in the trenches themselves.

A new partnership between Parents as Teachers (PAT) and Vernare Community Resources – a division of Vernare Learning, a nonprofit dedicated to building sustainable communities one school at a time, ensures that new parents have access to crucial services – and each other – to build stronger families and prepare their kids for success in school.

On September 12, the organizations will launch Parent University, a unique initiative that connects parents across many educational settings. During a special BlockFest playdate event, kids can learn important skills through immersive block play and parents can learn about the programs Parent University will offer this fall.

Partnering together to help kids thrive

According to Dr. Amber Simpson, founder and executive director of Vernare Learning, Parent University, which is free to participants, connects families in the community with each other at various locations throughout St. Louis City.

“The role of Parent University is to create group settings where families can come together, participate in parenting skill classes, and receive ongoing information on child development to help them and their children transition to each new step in life. We’re creating parent cafes and meet and greet discussion groups that cover topics most important to moms and dads.”

Parent University is centered on the research-based curriculum developed by PAT, which is focused on child growth and development, literacy and school readiness, and parent leadership. With support from Vernare Community Resources, the mission is taken a step further through the training of Peer Facilitators who can provide continual support to fellow parents.

In addition, PAT and Vernare will partner with organizations across the region to create, as Dr. Simpson referred to it, “an ecosystem of social services” that links moms and dads to resources they may not be aware of, but ones that will empower them to become the best parents they can be.

The foundation for Parent University has been built and its programs ready to launch, but it’s the parents themselves who will pave the future of the program. Dr. Simpson noted that through brainstorming sessions and focus groups, parents will be able to voice their challenges and share the topics they would like to see covered.

Play, learn and grow at BlockFest

BlockFest is the first public Parent University event for the entire family, introducing parents to all the services that will be offered. But even more important, this on-hands playdate helps their kids build critical math, science and technical skills through something as simple and fun as block play.

“The block party is guided by Parents as Teachers’ philosophy and staff, and each exercise is built around the developmental level of the child,” Dr. Simpson explained. “Through the activities, parents will become more comfortable with the concepts Parents as Teachers promotes, and at the same time, have fun with their child by getting down on the ground and playing alongside them.”

In addition to block play activities, the event includes nature exploration areas, recyclable art projects, food trucks, and musical entertainment.

While parents learn about Parent University, they can also hear about Vernare Learning’s charter school, Vernare, which plans to open its doors in Fall 2016 to kids in kindergarten through second grade.

Dedicated to a STEM curriculum with a special focus on sustainability, Vernare is unique in the charter school realm by serving as a community gathering space not only for students, but for the entire neighborhood. Together, families, school personnel and local partners will strengthen their community through service projects, educational programs and civic engagement activities.

Remarked Dr. Simpson, “When you look at the relationship between schools and communities, a strong school is fundamental to neighborhood stability, economic stability and family support. With Vernare Learning on one side, we provide a strong, high-quality education for our young neighbors. With Vernare Community on the other, we create a sense of village in the neighborhood through community service projects, our school garden and volunteer opportunities.”

While a final location for Vernare is still to be determined, parents are welcome to learn more about its concept and stay on top of the latest developments at www.vernarelearning.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VernareLearningOrg.

Make plans to attend BlockFest with your kids on September 12 at Hyde Park on Salisbury in St. Louis from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and get your first taste of Parent University and Vernare Community.  The event is free for all guests and is especially geared to kids ages six months through the third grade. Visit www.vernarecommunity.org now for details on BlockFest and everything Parent University has to offer your family.