Raising kids is hard; Indianapolis east side program aims to help

(MIRROR INDY) — When Ross Worthman started pre-K, he had a nickname: “the little sloth.”

When he started school, Ross would often resist participating, choosing instead to lie down in a corner in his class. Sometimes he’d stay there for half the day. Even what were intended to be fun family trips to the park could trigger a massive meltdown.

“He would be screaming,” said Ross’ mom, Rebekah Worthman.

That was before she joined the Edna Martin Christian Center’s program, Parents as Teachers. The initiative is a free home visiting program where certified parent educators meet with families to provide resources for raising small children.

With the help of a parent educator, the far east side mom set goals for herself and for Ross. Together, they explored new forms of play therapy and worked to establish schedules for everything from potty training to bedtime.

Rebekah reflected on her 4-year-old’s progress on a recent Friday evening as he played with ease alongside other kids in a colorful ballpit. The single mom told Mirror Indy she’s feeling confident about her son’s next major milestone: kindergarten.