National Parents as Teachers Day

Categories:: Special Interest
Tags:: Children Educational Parents
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every November 8
Holiday emoji:: 📚

National Parents as Teachers Day, celebrated every November 8, recognizes the profound impact parents have as their children’s initial and most influential educators. This day highlights organizations that equip parents with tools and resources to foster learning and development at home. Discover ways to engage, share your family’s learning journey, and support educational initiatives.

Deals
Platforms
Social
Brands
Hero
History
Timeline
Businesses
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate
Related

Expected National Parents as Teachers Day Deals

For National Parents as Teachers Day, the focus shifts from commercial deals to valuable resources and support for families. Organizations like the Parents as Teachers national center offer free resources, webinars, and local program information to empower parents. Educational publishers such as Scholastic and online learning platforms like Khan Academy often highlight free content or special bundles for home learning. Retailers specializing in educational toys and materials, like Lakeshore Learning or Melissa & Doug, may feature promotions on learning aids. Nonprofits like the National PTA advocate for parental involvement and provide community support networks. We encourage families to explore these resources and connect with local early childhood education programs. We will update this page with confirmed live programs and resource spotlights as November 8 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Parents as Teachers Day

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #ParentsAsTeachers. Share insights on early childhood development and the importance of parental engagement in the workplace.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #ParentsAsTeachersDay. Share photos of your family’s learning activities or resources you find helpful for other parents.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #ParentsAsTeachers. Join conversations about educational policy, share quick learning tips, or highlight inspiring parent-teacher stories.

National Parents as Teachers Day Hero

Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori (1870–1952) was an Italian physician and educator, best known for the philosophy of education that bears her name, the Montessori method. She emphasized child-centered learning, observing children's natural tendencies, and creating environments that foster independence and self-directed activity. Her work profoundly influenced early childhood education, advocating for parents and educators to support children's innate drive to learn and explore.

History of National Parents as Teachers Day

National Parents as Teachers Day was started by the Parents as Teachers National Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The organization declared the first Parents as Teachers Day in 2001. It was decided that the day would be celebrated by offering support to the community by spreading awareness about early childhood programs.

National Parents as Teachers Day encourages Parent Teachers Organizations and parents to come together to support children in their educational and well-being endeavors. Parents as Teachers Organizations offer educational services to parents of young children across the country. The concept for Parents as Teachers developed in the 1970s in Missouri. The educators noted that children were beginning kindergarten with varying levels of school readiness, which impacted their classroom performance. Research showed that greater parent involvement is a crucial link in the child’s development and ability to learn new skills, such as reading and writing. National Parents as Teachers Day provides tools, resources, and support to parents to efficiently guide them and their children.

Parents as Teachers National Center is dedicated to taking a holistic approach to strengthening families. In some cases, they have provided their services to pregnant women and families with children from birth through kindergarten. The broad goal of the day is to prevent child abuse and neglect, increase parental knowledge of early childhood development, improve parenting practices, increase children’s school readiness and success, and help states develop and implement home visiting programs that improve the health and well-being of families with young children. Simply put, the day hopes to raise a generation of happy and healthy children.

National Parents as Teachers Day timeline

1980s

The Program Begins

Parents embrace their important role as their child’s first and best teacher.

1981

Parents as Teachers is Founded

With funding from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and The Danforth Foundation, Parents as Teachers begins

1985

State Funding is Approved

Missouri legislature provides state funding to implement Parents as Teachers programs in all Missouri school districts.

1990s

Parents as Teachers is a Success

Parents as Teachers expands to all 50 states and six other countries.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Parents as Teachers Day

Local businesses can celebrate National Parents as Teachers Day by offering family-friendly workshops or educational events. Bookstores might host story times with local educators, while toy stores could offer discounts on learning-focused games. Cafes and restaurants can create special family meal deals or provide quiet corners for parents to engage in learning activities with their children. Businesses can also partner with local schools or parent-teacher organizations to sponsor educational initiatives or donate learning supplies, highlighting their commitment to community and early childhood development.

National Parents as Teachers Day FAQs

When is National Parents as Teachers Day?

National Parents as Teachers Day 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8, a day dedicated to honoring the foundational role parents play in their children’s early education and development.

How many children are homeschooled in the U.S.?

The number of homeschooled students in the U.S. has seen significant fluctuations. In the 2021-2022 school year, approximately 3.1 million students were homeschooled, representing about 5.7% of the school-age population, a notable increase from pre-pandemic levels.

What is the impact of parental involvement in education?

Research consistently shows that strong parental involvement positively impacts children’s academic achievement, social-emotional development, and overall well-being. Children with engaged parents tend to have higher grades, better attendance, and improved behavior.

What is the Parents as Teachers program?

The Parents as Teachers program is a national non-profit that provides evidence-based home visiting services, connecting trained parent educators with families. It focuses on child development, parenting skills, and family well-being from pregnancy through kindergarten.

National Parents as Teachers Day Activities

Teach your child something new
Take this day as an opportunity to teach something new to your child. Your encouragement and passion will help them to pick up a new skill more easily.
Join a local organization
If you are not a parent, you can still contribute by joining an organization that works for children’s education. This can help to improve the standard of education in your community.
Post on social media
Use #ParentsAsTeachersDay to post on social media. Tell new parents about the Parents as Teachers initiative and encourage them to join a program.

5 Facts About Schools That Will Blow Your Mind

The world’s oldest school
The Shishi High School located in Chengdu, China was established in 191 B.C. and functions to this day.
A school in India has 56,000 students
The largest school in the world in terms of the number of students is the City Montessori School in Lucknow, India.
The world’s smallest school is in Italy
In 2014, there was an elementary school in Turin, Italy that only had one teacher and one student.
Lunch is serious business in French schools
Meal-time in France is considered part of the curriculum.
Finnish kids start school at age seven
During the developing years, they’re given free rein as a way to allow children to be children.

Why We Love National Parents as Teachers Day

It helps parents and children
National Parents as Teachers Day helps both children and parents. It supports them by providing tools, resources, and expertise.
Children learn better
Children often join kindergarten with inadequate skills. National Parents as Teachers Day hopes to bridge this gap so that every child starts school on the same stage of learning.
It raises happy children
When a parent is well-informed about the ways in which they can help their child learn better, it has a positive impact. It raises a generation of happy children who are excited about school and learning.