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The Art and Science of Parent Education. Barbara LeBlanc, LCSW Debbie Regan, RNC, IBCLC.
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The Art and Science of Parent Education Barbara LeBlanc, LCSW Debbie Regan, RNC, IBCLC
Session ICenters for Disease Control and Prevention (2009)Lara Robinson, PhD, MPHJennifer Kaminski, PhDCDC Child Development Studies TeamParent Training Programs:Insight for Practitioners A publication of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, GA
Purpose of the CDC Study • Is all parent training the same? • Research and analysis of evaluations of existing programs for effectiveness • Guide practitioners in making evidence-based program decisions
What was Evaluated? • Peer-reviewed articles published from 1990 – 2002 evaluating training programs for parents of children ages 0 – 7 • Meta-analysis of 77 program evaluations
Parent Education Who? What? Where?
Whoare Parent Educators? • Social workers • Child care providers • Teachers • Doctors • Nurses • Clergy • Others ?
Competencies for Parent Educators • Knowledge of: • Child and lifespan development • Dynamics of family relations • Guidance and nurturing • Health and safety • Diversity and family systems • Professional practice and methods of adult learning • Community relationships • Assessment and evaluation LAPEN Parent Educator Core Competencies 2010
Whatdo Parent Educators do? • Teach • Facilitate • Continue to learn
Professional Growth ofParent Educators Join LAPEN Network NPEN Listserve Track professional development Seek & explore latest research
Where is Parent Education Happening? • Schools • Child care centers • Social service agencies • Healthcare facilities • Faith-based institutions • Other ???
Session IIContent and Delivery of Parent Educationthat Works! How? What? Why?
HowdoParent Educators Teach? • Utilize evidenced-based research • Avoid using personal anecdotal information • Qualify information you give as either “my opinion/experience” vs. research • Encourage parents to recognize what they are doing right = empowerment
What do Parent Educators Teach?(CDC Study, Content Components) • Child development • Positive interactions with child • Responsiveness, sensitivity and nurturing • Emotional communication • Disciplinary communication • Discipline and behavior management • Promoting children’s social skills • Promoting children’s cognitive skills
What do Parent Educators Use?(CDC Study, Delivery Components) • Curriculum or Manual • Modeling • Homework • Rehearsal, Role Playing, or Practice • Separate Child Instruction • Ancillary Services
What Skills do Parent Educators Use? • Resist giving immediate advice, answers & solutions • Guide parents to explore options • Resist being the expert on EVERYTHING! • Resist citing research on EVERYTHING! • Allow parents to find their own comfort zone
Parent Educator Facilitation Skills • Creating an open and supportive climate • Know when to be supportive or when to refer out • Introduce appropriate information for discussion • Encourage participation • Help create a feeling of group trust • Summarize major points • Encourage parents with praise • Encourage parent to parent relationships
Whydo Parents Join Groups or Take Classes? • Feeling overwhelmed or inadequate • Needs help sorting out contradictory information • Individual child rearing concerns • Place to sort out feelings • Seeking ways to transmit their values and morals • Mandatory
Adult Learning Principles • Adults are motivated to learn as they develop needs and interests generated by real life tasks or problems • Learning is life or work centered • Experience is the richest resource for adult learning • Adults have a deep need to be self-directing • Individual differences increase with age and experience
What Parent Groups Offer • Isolation seeks socialization • Helps parents create a new normal • Spin off friendships / playgroups • Observes others’ parenting skills • Builds confidence as a parent
How to Evaluate a Program Two Outcomes Examined (CDC Study) Outcome 1: Acquiring Parenting Skills and Behaviors Outcome 2: Decreases in Children’s Externalizing Behaviors
Outcome 1: Acquiring Parenting Skills and Behaviors Components Associated with Larger Effects on Parenting Behaviors & Skills Outcomes I. Teach parents emotional communication skills II. Teach parents positive parent-child interaction skills III. Require parents to practice with their child during program sessions
I. Teach parents emotional communication skills 5 Stages of Emotional Communication • Emotional awareness • Connecting during emotional moments • Listening with empathy • Naming emotions • Finding good solutions TALARIS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, John Gottman, Ph.D
Emotion Coaching Video TALARIS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, John Gottman, Ph.D
II. Teach parents positive parent-child interaction skills • Non-disciplinary interactions • Play • Using skills that promote positive parent-child interactions • Enthusiasm • Following interests • Age appropriate recreation • Provide positive attention • Connecting / Reconnecting
III. Require parents to practice with their child during program sessions • Role-playing with the parent trainer or a peer • Practice parent skills with own child
Outcome 2: Decreases in Children’s Externalizing Behaviors Components Associated with Larger Effects on Children’s Externalizing Behaviors I. Teach parents the correct use of time out II. Teach parents to respond consistently to their child III. Teach parents to interact positively with their child IV. Require parents to practice with their child during program sessions
I. Teach parents the correct use of time out • One minute/year of age • Set timer • Location • 3 years and up • Over use • Lesson learned? • Alternatives?
II. Teach parents to respond consistently to their child • Parents agree on discipline • Plan ahead for persistent problems • Say it one time – then act • ACT* • Acknowledge behavior/feelings • Communicate the rule • Target acceptable behavior (redirect) *1 2 3 4 Parents, Michael Popkin, Ph.D
III. Teach parents positive parent-child interaction skills • Non-disciplinary interactions • Play • Using skills that promote positive parent-child interactions • Enthusiasm • Following interests • Age appropriate recreation • Provide positive attention • Connecting / Reconnecting
Positive Parent-Child Interactions Learning Happens Video Zero to Three, National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families
IV. Require parents to practice with their child during program sessions • Role-play with the parent trainer or a peer • Practice parent skills with own child
Lunch & Networking
Evaluate Your Program • What components in my program are effective? • What components in my program are ineffective? • How could additional effective components be added to my existing program? • How could ineffective components be eliminated from my existing program?
Session IIITheory to Practice:Parenting Education that Makes a Difference
Commonly Used Components in Parent Education • Tailoring parenting classes to appropriate ages and stages • “One size does not fit all” • Video examples of parent/child interactions • Homework • Teaching child development • Teaching problem-solving • Focus on cognitive / academic development
If Parents do not attend or endorse the need to learn and use new strategies, even the most effective parenting programWILL NOT WORK!
Motivation for Parents to Continue to Attend We know what to teach. We know how to teach. BUT… How do we keep them coming back?
Marketing Strategies • Media • Healthcare facilities • Pediatrician / Obstetrician offices • Social service agencies • Legal system • Library • Community fairs • Schools • Retail outlets
CDC Study Results say… “…decades of research show that active learning approaches are superior to passive approaches. Therefore parent education programs that seek to presumably change behavior but do not use an active skills acquisition mechanism were not included in the meta-analysis”
So… Classroom instruction alone doesn’t work Active learning approaches must be incorporated
The Parenting Center atChildren’s Hospital • Program model • Support & funding • Staff • Utilization • Classes/activities/programs • 30 Years and Counting!