CHLDREN’S CLASSES, HOME VISITING, PARENTING EDUCATION AND RESOURCES

Parenting is a hard job but it is so impactful to our children! The first few years of life are the most critical time for proper brain development, social-emotional development, and cognitive development. Here are some of the resources in Archuleta County that can help you grow & learn about your child.

The following organizations offer parenting classes, playgroups and other educational resources:
Aspire Medical Services & Education (INDIVIDUAL & GROUP CLASSES), 602 S. 8th Street, Pagosa Springs, CO  81147 – 970-265-5963 or Email:education@aspirepagosa.org
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  • Positive Parenting Program – 8 classes with specific instruction on how to bring out the best in your child from baby to three years old. Strategies on understanding behavior, mindfulness and support. Offered April & September 2024.
  • BrightCourse digital and in-person classes on a full range of topics from prenatal care to toddlers, milestones, relationships, life choices, finances, discipline, and more. These can be delivered in person with a coach, online via text/Email or in a group setting.
  • Multiple parent/toddler classes including Mommy & Me, Problem Solvers, Wonderful Ones, Terrific Twos – Connect with other Moms and help your baby/toddler work on fine motor skills, creativity, literacy, math readiness, sensory play & science with Anette McInnis! Call 970-264-5963 or Email: education@aspirepagosa.org for more details!
  • Childbirth Education Class – offered quarterly. 3 sessions with clinical staff and our MD to help you prepare a birthing plan & get ready for childbirth.
Ruby M. Sisson Memorial Library, 811 San Juan Street, Pagosa Springs, CO  81147 – 970-264-2209 – offers classes, literacy training, virtual programs and activities for children of all ages.
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Seeds of Learning Preschool offers The Incredible Years Dinosaur School for parents of children 3-5 years old. Offered 2X a year. Call 970-264-5513 or Email: executiveassist@growingseeds.org for more details.
Fatherhood Program through the La Plata Family Centers Coalition – offers Colorado Fatherhood Program and Nurturing Fathers Program.
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OTHER PARENTING EDUCATION RESOURCES:
Nurse Family Partnership – Provides first time mothers with support in parenting from pregnancy through the child’s second year through a series of home visits. https://archuletacounty.org/760/Nurse-Family-Partnership
SafeCare Home Visitation – An in-home program that provides direct skill training to parents in the areas of parenting, child safety, and child health. The program targets families with children ages zero to five years. Archuleta Public Health District administers the program.  Contact Amy Nitchman, safecare@archuletacounty.org or call 970-264-2409 – View FLYER
Your Child’s Early Learning Development Guidelines – Provides a detailed guide of developmental milestones for each age stage of your child. Watch helpful videos to see typical development and tips on how to support your young child. www.earlylearning.co.org
4 the Children – Advocating for children who are abused or neglected and for children at risk of abuse and neglect throughout the 6th and 22nd judicial districts, representing the Archuleta, Dolores, Montezuma and San Juan counties. http://4thechild.org/
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – Great site for families that includes everything from music, to the “Families Today” column written by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton and Dr. Joshua Sparrow. http://families.naeyc.org
Prevent Child Abuse Colorado – 1-800-CHILDREN is a free statewide family support line. Parents can call to get support, parenting advice, and information on services and resources available in their community. https://www.illuminatecolorado.org/
Aspire Medical Services & Education (INDIVIDUAL & GROUP CLASSES), 602 S. 8th Street, Pagosa Springs, CO  81147 – 970-265-5963 or Email:education@aspirepagosa.org
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  • Multiple Parent/Toddler Classes. Play based activities designed improve school readiness. Offered Mondays & Tuesdays. Call 970-264-5963 for current class schedule.
  • Coffee & Kiddos Playgroup– For parents with children 0 – 5 years old. Monday mornings at 10:00am
  • Incredible Infants, Wonderful One’s and Terrific Twos group classes – contact Anette at 970-264-5963 for dates/times
Children’s Music Academy, Music classes for children 3 – 5 years old, 303-884-2144
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Forge Martial Arts, Ninja, MMA, Obstacle training & Jiujitsu classes for children starting at 2.5 years old, info@forgemartialarts.com
(970) 585-4354
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Healing Waters Resort & Spa Children’s Swim Classes – Swimming classes for children ages 3+, Call 970-507-0495 or Email: calmwatersaquatics@gmail.com
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Kids Kare Club Wednesdays from 9:30am – 11:30am – Pagosa Bible Church, 209 Harman Park Drive. For ages 3-5 years old. The program includes songs, games, crafts and an exciting Bible story with lots of interaction with the kids.
Mountain Kids Music –  Music and movement for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and the grownups who love them®! Classes will be held on Tuesdays starting on January 10th-April 4th, Call 970-903-0059 or Email: suzette@mountainkidsmusic.com
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Pagosa Dance Academy – Dance Basics Class for 3-5 year olds, 450 Lewis Street, Pagosa Springs, CO  81147 , Call 970.403.5828
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Ruby M. Sisson Memorial Library, 811 San Juan Street, Pagosa Springs, CO  81147 – 970-264-2209 – offers classes, literacy training, virtual programs and activities for children of all ages.
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  • Family Storytime (all ages) – an educational hour of reading, singing and free play, building early literacy skills together! Meets every Wednesday from 10:00 – 11:00 am. 
  • Read Baby Read (0-18 months) – An interactive storytime specific for babies that includes singing, bouncing, and laughing as we enjoy age-appropriate books and songs! Usually meets the 4th Friday of the month from 10:00 – 11:00 am. Note, this will start at 9:30 am starting in October. 
  • Y is for Yoga Storytime (ages 1-5) – Let’s stretch while we practice early literacy skills in a fun relaxed way. Usually meets the 3rd Friday of the month from 10:00 – 11:00 am. 
    Mini Monets (ages 1-5) – This program uses art, sometimes messy, to build early literacy skills. Program includes playtime as art dries. Usually meets the 2nd Friday of the month 10:00 – 11:00 am. We are looking for an instructor to lead this class starting in October so it may not return. 
  • Rhythm & Rhymes (ages 1-5) – A music-based program utilizing movement, singing and instruments. Usually meets the 1st Friday of the month from 10:00 – 11:00 am. 
  • 1000 Books Before Kindergarten – Parents can sign up for the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program at the library. Parents are provided a folder with instructions and tally sheets to track their child’s progress. Each time they reach 100 books, they come into the library to receive a new book to keep and bookmark. We also track their progress on a display at the library. When the child reaches 1000 books they get a backpack full of educational materials. 
  • LENA Start. This free program helps parents give their children the language development they need to be ready for preschool and kindergarten. It consists of 10 free, weekly online sessions to help parents understand how to talk with their infants and toddlers in a way that increases their conversation skills before school. Parents meet at the library for the sessions and receive materials to use with their children. Fall date TBA.
  • Storytime-to-go Backpacks – We offer 6 different themed storytime-to-go backpacks that parents can check out with their library card. The backpacks have 5 to 6 books, and 1 to 2 interactive manipulatives to play with. One of the backpacks – the weather backpack – has Spanish materials.
Thingamagig Children’s Theater Company, part of the Pagosa Center for the Arts, this local theater offers children’s shows & summer camps for children 6+
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Time for Toddlers at the Pagosa Springs Community Center, 451 Hot Springs Blvd, Pagosa Springs, CO  Tuesdays 8:00am – 11:00am
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Nurse Family Partnership – Provides first time mothers with support in parenting from pregnancy through the child’s second year through a series of home visits. https://archuletacounty.org/760/Nurse-Family-Partnership
SafeCare Home Visitation – An in-home program that provides direct skill training to parents in the areas of parenting, child safety, and child health. The program targets families with children ages zero to five years. Archuleta Public Health District administers the program.  Contact Amy Nitchman, safecare@archuletacounty.org or call 970-264-2409
LOCAL RESOURCES
Department of Human Services – Self Sufficiency Food Assistance Program provides a basic level of nutritional well-being for eligible families and individuals.  https://www.archuletacounty.org/91/Department-of-Human-Services-DHS
Healthy Archuleta – Health and community wellness through food/nutrition resource assistance, educational programs, advocacy, systems work, and promoting community-driven solutions that lead to a healthier Archuleta. https://www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org/
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program – Nutrition Program that provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education to pregnant women, mothers of infants as well as infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.
https://archuletacounty.org/759/Women-Infant-Children
FOOD PANTRIES
We have a food pantry open in various locations every day of the week in Pagosa Springs!  Here is a list of each of them:
https://www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org/food-pantry-network.html
OTHER RESOURCES
Kids Health – Learn how to keep your child healthy with the right foods and exercise.  http://kidshealth.org/kid/nutrition/
Cooking Matters – Healthy, affordable, delicious! Cooking Matters helps families shop for and cook healthy meals on a budget. www.cookingmatters.org
Healthy Child Care Colorado – Focuses on early childhood obesity prevention by creating and delivering innovative professional development experiences to raise awareness, develop skills, and support the integration of best practices and policies. Early Childhood Professionals play an important role in helping children develop healthy preferences that can last a lifetime. https://healthychildcareco.org/