Research findings support the fact that parenting classes such as PEP’s have a strong impact on both parents and children. The positive parenting theory and practice that PEP teaches is internationally well documented by educators, mental health professionals and child development experts as highly effective.
Why is parenting education a good choice for parents? Parenting education has been linked to the following positive results:
- Improved parent-child bond and communication [1]
- Increased child compliance to parent requests [2]
- Increased parental knowledge of child development and parenting issues [3]
- Fewer negative parenting behaviors such as yelling, using bribery or hitting [4]
- Better physical, cognitive and emotional development in children [5]
- Reduced youth substance abuse such as smoking and drinking [6,7,8]
- Better adolescent school performance and stronger school engagement [9]
- Better mental health for children and fewer symptoms of depression [10,11]
References:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Parent Training Programs: Insight for Practitioners (Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009).
2. Ibid.
3. Anne Samuelson, “Best practices for parent education and support programs,” What Works: Wisconsin Research to Practice Series 10 (Madison: University of Wisconsin–Madison/Extension, 2010).
4. Jody McVittie, M.D., and Al M. Best, Ph.D., “The Impact of Adlerian-Based Parenting Classes on Self-Reported Parental Behavior,” Journal of Individual Psychology 65 no. 3 (Fall 2009): 264-285, http://www.positivediscipline.com/files/Press_Release_12_5_09.pdf.
5. Samuelson, “Best practices for parent education and support programs.”
6. Bruce Simons-Morton, Denise L. Haynie, Aria D. Crump, Patricia Eitel, and Keith E. Saylor, “Peer and parent influences on smoking and drinking among early adolescents,” Health Education & Behavior 28 no. 1 (2001): 95-107.
7. Lisa Bunting, “Parenting Programmes: The Best Available Evidence,” Child Care in Practice 10 no. 4 (2004): 327-343, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1357527042000285510#.UkShZIakolQ.
8. Nick Carter, “See how we grow: A report of parenting education in the U.S.,” The Pew Charitable Trust Foundation (1996), cited in Samuelson, “Best practices for parent education and support programs.”
9. L. Steinberg, L., S. D. Lamborn, S. M. Dornbusch, and N. Darling, “Impact of parenting practices on adolescent achievement: Authoritative parenting, school involvement, and encouragement to succeed,” Child Development 63 (1992): 1266-1281.
10. “Mental health of children: A study confirms that being a parent can be learned,” UdeMNovelle (University of Montreal, Aug. 20, 2013).
11. Paul Tullis, “Poor Little Tiger Cub,” Slate (May 8, 2013) http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2013/05/_tiger_mom_study_shows_the_parenting_method_doesn_t_work.html
