Parent Education

TECA 1303Chapter 13

Do we need parent education?

©2010 Cengage Learning.All Rights Reserved.

What Is Parent Education? Traditional views and definitions

Large informational meetings Competent professional dispensing facts to less-

competent parent Family support programs offer family-

community interaction Functions of parent education

Stimulate parents to examine relationships with their children

Encourage interaction among parents Help parents prevent problems and optimize their

function

Family Life Education Teach parents how child develops Guidance strategies Specific areas: helping toddlers’

language, temperaments, discipline (various age groups), health and safety, dealing with difficult behaviors, etc.

Classes can be one time or several weeks

Court-ordered vs voluntary Many programs available

Types of Family Life Education

Letters and Newsletters Conferences with parent Bulletin Boards Parenting Minute in meeting Speaker on topic Topical workshop Series around topic Ongoing workshop or meetings on

children’s development

©2010 Cengage Learning.All Rights Reserved.

Examples of Predesigned Parent Education Programs

Parent Effectiveness Training (PET)

Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP)

Active Parenting Today (APT)

AVANCE Parenting Education

Center for the Improvement of Child Caring

Parent Ed Books and Packages

Parents As Teachers Trained people with degrees work with parents

focused on birth to three, although they now cover to 5

All families have strengths Parents are the experts on their child

Home visits Group meetings Developmental Screening Connections with community resources

HIPPY Emphasis on preparing 3-5 to succeed in school Paraprofessionals trained to work with families in

home

Parent Ed Books and Packages

Parents As Teachers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ66yje50g4&feature=PlayList&p=639AEE3848510274&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2 Trained people with degrees work with parents focused

on birth to three, although they now cover to 5 All families have strengths Parents are the experts on their child

Home visits Group meetings Developmental Screening Connections with community resources

HIPPY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E11fwv_o2CA Emphasis on preparing 3-5 to succeed in school Paraprofessionals trained to work with families in home

Parents As Learners

Parents bring their own knowledge, experience and learning styles to training situations

Parents acquire new information and skills by changing existing information and adding new information to what they previously knew

Parents learn best when they, not the curriculum is the focus of the program

Parents must be able to explore and make their own discoveries; they learn best from activity

They need opportunities to discuss, collaborate and share experiences and information with peers.

They need concrete, everday examples and problems to discuss

They need opportunities to share opposing points of view and share consensus

They need a variety of learning strategies that appeal to many senses

Parents As Learners

Parents need to feel free to guide and direct their learning

Parents are motivated to learn when they have a need to do so. They want to know WIIFM

parents need training that is focused on solving immediate problems

They need theory and knowledge they can apply They respond best when taught by facilitators who care

about their learners and recognize their experience They come with a variety of education, background,

experience, intelligence, emotional stability and motivation for achievement and change

They must feel motivated Thoughts, emotions, imagination, and physical

condition affect the ability to attend and retain information

How do you involve parents in classes?

Use a needs assessment (handout) Offer food, transportation, child care Provide in their community or

comfortable setting Provide in language or cultural context Make it interactive Open-ended discussions Honor their expertise

Planning Your Parent Support Programs

Who is audience? How large do you want your group to be? What do you want them to learn/goals? How much time do you have? What type of resources/facilities do you

have? What materials or curriculum will you use? Will you create your own program?

Design Your Workshop

Decide on topic, set goals Know audience Plan timelines Research content Use variety of instruction methods

Trainer Methodologies Games Demonstrations Case Studies Group Discussions Panels Quizzes Debates Brainstorming Questioner

Role Plays Reports Guest Presenters Simulations Mentoring Models Stories Skits Buzz groups Projects

Small Group ActivityParenting Video: YouTube - December 9 - TiredofYelling.com

Read handout “Dealing with Difficult People and Situations in Training”

Pretend that you are moderating a small group of parents who are discussing the previous video clip and you have the following issues arise: Dominant speaker who hogs the floor An argument breaks out A person who constantly changes the subject focusing on

his personal problems Discuss how you would deal with each situation.

Market Your Program

Identify a target group Find their needs Design program to meet needs Communicate and develop a message

parents want to hear Post flyers Contact schools, churches, social service

agencies, libraries, newspapers,child care centers, businesses