PARENTING PROGRAMMES

The Basics of Parent Training Programmes

What all the programs have in common is that they teach parents how to use praise, or positive reinforcement, more effectively, to encourage the behaviours they want to encourage. And they teach parents how to deploy consistent consequences when the children do not comply. The result is that children learn to modulate their behaviour to meet expectations and enjoy much more positive interactions with their parents.

Where the programs differ is in how instruction is delivered, how parents practice the skills they are learning, and the pace at which they are expected to master these new skills. The programs involve 10 or more sessions, and they target different age groups of children.

These programs include:

1. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
2. Parent Management Training (PMT)
3. Defiant Teens
4. Positive Parenting Program (Triple P)
5. The Incredible Years
6. Behavioural and Emotional Skills Training (BEST)

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) 

PCIT works with parents and children together, teaching them skills to interact in a positive, productive way. It is effective for  children between the ages of 2 and 7, and usually requires 14 to 17 weekly sessions.

In PCIT, parents receive live coaching (via an ear piece) from a therapist who watches from behind a one-way mirror as they and their child perform a series of tasks, and parents practice specific responses to both desired and undesired behaviour.

PCIT is the most practice-intensive, as parents demonstrate mastery of each skill before going on to the next strategies to improve oppositional behaviour.

Sometime parents may need a lot of one-on-one attention in terms of how they are interacting with their child, especially when there are a lot of coercive negative interactions. Sometimes it is very important for parents to learn how to be with their children in a positive way.

Parent Management Training (PMT)

In PMT, which is for children ages 3 to 13, parents are usually seen without the child present, although children may be asked to participate in some sessions. Skills to deal more effectively with challenging behaviours are taught and modelled by the therapist and then role-played with parents. After each session, parents are expected to practice the skills at home. Families usually participate in at least 10 sessions.

Since PMT is appropriate for all ages, it is a good choice when children are too old for PCIT. It is often recommended for 4-year-olds if the parent-child interaction is actually pretty good, but there might be other things going on, such as anxiety, extreme impulsiveness or explosive anger.

It is crucial to note that PMT, which establishes a token economy with point charts used to reinforce positive behaviours, can be tougher for younger children to grasp, especially if they are cognitively delayed. If however a child is able to make the connection that they are earning these stars for behaviour and that these stars get them a reward, then it is appropriated.

Defiant Teens

The first half of this program involves only parents, and focuses on teaching more effective tools for interacting with their teenager, specifically for handling noncompliance or defiant behaviour. But since teenagers are more autonomous than younger children and less influenced by their parents’ guidance, the program also includes training for the adolescent to help him become a participant in changing the family dynamic. In the second half, parents and teenagers are both trained in problem-solving communication. The aim is to provide family behavioural resources to help each family member develop more effective problem-solving, negotiation and communication skills and to correct any unreasonable beliefs that might be impeding their interactions.

Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) 

Triple P’s focus is on equipping parents with information and skills to increase confidence and self-sufficiency in managing child behaviour. It can be utilized with a wide age range of children from toddlerhood through adolescence.

There are different levels of intervention depending on how severe the case is.  First, for parenting basics, there’s a four-session treatment that can be given in therapy offices that include social workers or other mental health professional  for integrated care.

But for families with more severe behaviour problems, there is a 12-session parent-and-child-focused treatment. It incorporates the best of PMT and PCIT by having some sessions in which the clinician is meeting one-on-one with parents and talking about skills and strategies, and some sessions where children are included and the therapist can do live coaching.

The Incredible Years

The Incredible Years offers small-group-based training for parents of children from infants through age 12. The programs are broken into four age groups (baby, toddler, preschool and school age) and they range from 12 to 20 weeks. There is also specialized training designed for high-risk socioeconomically disadvantaged families, and for families with children diagnosed with ADHD and  Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).

There’s a different topic for parents each session. The program starts with a focus on improving parent-child relationships and positive attachment before moving on to consistent routines, rules, and limit-setting.  Finally it covers child management strategies such as ignoring, redirection, logical and natural consequences, time to calm down and problem-solving. For children from four to eight years old, Incredible Years offers children’s groups that focus on helping them acquiring emotional regulation strategies  and social skills.

Behavioural and Emotional Skills Training (BEST)

Designed to introduce effective behaviour management techniques in a single session, Behavioural and Emotional Skills Training (BEST) is a full-day, interactive training for parents and caregivers to help manage problem behaviours in the home. Attendees of BEST workshops learn the basics of behaviour management and how to apply those skills consistently and effectively to increase their confidence in managing challenging behaviours. They also develop a behaviourally-minded network of other caregivers for continued support following training completion.