Parent Training: Choosing The Right Program For You

Oluwatosin Michael
Jan 15, 2024 By Oluwatosin Michael
Originally Published on May 27, 2021
Parenting is not a skill that can be learned
Age: 0-99
Read time: 7.4 Min

When it comes to parent training, it's important to weigh up your options and make sure you're choosing a program that fits your individual needs, so that you get the most out of it.

Parenting is not a skill that can be learned from reading books or taking a course; it is a way of life. Days and nights, weeks and months, years and decades are all a part of the grand experiment known as parenting.

It's more than just keeping your child alive until he or she becomes an adult; it's about teaching your child values and how to be the best person possible at any given time. To help with this mammoth challenge, there are tons of programs for parents to choose from that could massively improve your skills in dealing with difficult child behavior problems that you just can't seem to manage on your own.

You can learn professional techniques in a program for parents that you can put into practice to improve your home life as a family. If you're struggling with your child's behavior at any age, then a behavioral parent training program could be exactly what you need to create a positive home.

Check out our article on social media and self-esteem, or the best places to host your toddler's birthday party for more parenting advice.

What Is Parent Management Training?

Parent management training is a practical research

Parent management training is a practical, research-based approach working to help parents build stronger and more harmonious relationships with their children.

Parent training classes allow parents to learn skills and strategies to help them raise kind, responsible children. With professional guidance, parents can expect to develop the child care and life management skills they need to be successful in whatever parenting role, whether they're a mom, a dad, or a step-parent.

Parent training courses and classes are offered by social workers and psychologists who have done the research and gained the education to acquire the skills and experience to teach parents of children with behavior problems the best and most effective techniques and skills to manage their children's behavior.

To get the best results from a parent training program, all the adults close to a child should take part in the training, so that the techniques that are learned during treatment can give their child the support they need.

Though there are a lot of different parent training programs around, they usually all have a few things in common. In general, they will teach parents the best ways to praise their children and to use positive reinforcement to encourage good behaviors. They also teach parents the best way to deal with bad behavior in a healthy way, and what kind of consequences to put in place if their kids are being naughty or badly behaved.

You will have the chance to learn about a variety of different topics that are usually divided into three different categories: behavior management, how to handle discipline, and how parents can cope with parenting successfully.

Attending the right program will help you learn what it means to be a good parent and how to put those morals into practice each day. You'll learn about improving your communication skills and setting appropriate limits for your children to help manage difficult behaviors.

How It Can Help Your Family

Parent training is a great way to help families learn how to deal with relationships between parents and children in the most effective ways possible.

If your child's behavior is making it difficult for you and your family to be happy parents, then you can consider attending an in-person or online program that will help you learn how to communicate more effectively with one another about the challenges you're facing, and communicate better with your kids.

Parents can benefit enormously from the support of a parent management center and the treatments and services available, as the strategies and resources teach families how to communicate and set boundaries at home. During weekly sessions, you will learn how to deal with your child's bad behavior and moods, and be given resources to help guide you at home.

Choosing to attend sessions with a parent and child together will allow you to work with your children during the program, and understand each other's feelings and points of view much better. Parents will be able to work out where their child's struggles are coming from, and get the support and treatment that they need to help them.

How To Choose A Program

deal with relationships between parents and children

Before a household can learn how to manage a difficult child, the entire family must learn how to get along with one another. This task is not an easy one and although it may seem rather impossible at times it can always be done with proper guidance from professionals who know how to do it successfully.

Not everyone who participates in programs that offer parent classes will actually benefit from the knowledge that is taught. The child's stress levels will sometimes be so high, they may not be able to concentrate on anything that is being said during class. It is important that parents are aware of what each class entails so they are aware of the possible benefits or drawbacks when it comes to attending a particular session.

Some programs will be more suited to younger children, while others will be better for teenagers. It is necessary to determine which program your child is most suited for in order to make the most of their attendance and gain the most from it. If your child is at a young age, look into a class that focuses on behavior management and discipline. This can help you both learn how to work together more effectively in order to help your child grow emotionally and socially as they get older.

The most effective form of training is one that is designed by professionals who have the right knowledge to ensure that both parents and children will benefit from the process. Ideally, you should be taking each session with a trainer or an experienced parent.

There are several different types of programs you can get into if you would like to learn techniques to help you to parent effectively.

If you want to work alongside your child during your treatment, then programs like Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) could be the best education choice for you. This teaches children how to interact positively and productively. It works best for children that are aged two to seven, and you will be asked to participate in the treatments for around fourteen weeks.

The Triple P approach, otherwise known as the Positive Parenting Program, helps parents who are feeling under-confident in managing their kids' behavior. Families with kids of all ages can benefit from the therapy and education offered with this method. The level of intervention will depend on how severe your issues are. It includes a 12-session focussed treatment and therapy sessions with live coaching.

There is special parent management treatment particularly geared towards teenagers, which is called Defiant Teens which is based on a method created by Drs. Russell Barkley and Arthur Robin. For half of the training, parents work without their kids to learn the basic skills to deal with defiant behaviors in their teens. Therapy and training for teens will also be available, and they will be asked to participate with parents to help create strategies that help everyone to be happier and work together.

There are also special programs for families that are dealing with children who have disabilities or disruptive behaviors caused by ADHD and other behavioral problems. Children with disabilities will usually benefit from visiting a specialist treatment center that has done research into their personal needs and can provide special education geared towards helping them directly.

If your child is experiencing behavior problems because of something specific, it could be more beneficial for you to take part in a program specifically geared towards their needs, so that you can get the most out of the teaching.  Parents of children with ADHD and mental health issues will benefit from visiting a training center and learning some of the evidence-based techniques that can help with home and school life for their children.

It's important to understand the differences between each parent training course so that you can find the program that is best suited to you and your family's needs. Each different center will have slightly different resources and training so it's a good idea to research what your local school or center offers by taking a look at their website or organizing a call to discuss how working with them could best support your needs as parents.

If you found this article helpful, then why not take a look at how to teach respect for elders, or all about the sleep regression ages and how to survive them?

We Want Your Photos!
We Want Your Photos!

We Want Your Photos!

Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Email your photos

More for You

See All

Written by Oluwatosin Michael

Bachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology

Oluwatosin Michael picture

Oluwatosin MichaelBachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology

With a Bachelor's in Microbiology from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Oluwatosin has honed his skills as an SEO content writer, editor, and growth manager. He has written articles, conducted extensive research, and optimized content for search engines. His expertise extends to leading link-building efforts and revising onboarding strategies. 

Read full bio >