![\"family-with-books\"](\"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/story-33.jpg\")
Miguel Cortez of Tucson has three sons, twins who are in sixth grade, and Christopher, who started kindergarten this fall. Although all of his children participated in the Parents as Teachers program, Cortez said it was different with Christopher.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir mom was the one who participated in the program with the twins, but now we have separated and I have the kids,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Cortez and Christopher, who live in Tucson, enrolled in Dad and Me, when the boy was 3. The set of Dad-based parenting classes is organized by Parents as Teachers and funded by First Things First.<\/p>\n
\u201cI learned how to better interact with my kids and to be interested in what they are interested in,\u201d Cortez said. As he noticed Christopher getting more into books, colors and letters, the PAT coordinator made suggestions of things Cortez could do with his son.<\/p>\n
For example, if they were at the grocery store, Cortez would have his son help put together the grocery list. Once they arrived, Cortez would ask his son questions as they shopped. \u201cWhat letter was that?\u201d he\u2019d say as he pointed to a box of cereal.<\/p>\n
The Dad and Me program also had a profound effect on how Cortez viewed his role as a father.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe class is just for dads; moms can come, but they sit along the side,\u201d Cortez said. It was different than the culture that Cortez grew up in, where the father worked and the mother took care of the children.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got more involved because of PAT,\u201d Cortez said. \u201cWork used to come first for me, then my kids, but now my kids always come first. The program confirms family, that we are better together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cortez credits PAT with instilling his children\u2019s love of reading, knowing how to behave in school and helping them develop self-control.<\/p>\n
When Christopher started kindergarten he could count from 1- 100 all by himself. He was one of only three children in his class who could do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe program taught me to tell Christopher, \u2018Keep counting!\u2019\u201d Cortez said.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"