Early Childhood Parenting Skills (ECPS)

R. R. Abidin, EdD

This modular program is designed to teach parents the skills that are recognized as key to successful parenting: developing a positive relationship, communication, discipline, managing emotions, and developing appropriate structure.

Program Manual for the Mental Health Professional

The manual organizes current knowledge about children and their development into a systematic program for basic parenting skills training. Section I provides information that will be useful to the professional before the training begins. Section II contains a scripted narrative and notes to the professional for each of the 19 sessions that form the substantive core of the program. These sessions are drawn from four general areas: self-concept, relationships, behavioral principles, and cognitive psychology.

Professionals are free to use this modular program in a flexible manner, selecting appropriate sessions and/or modules to meet specific needs. Section III provides five different lecture/workshops designed as single-session presentations. Section IV provides an extensive annotated bibliography, which is also included in the Parenting Skills Workbook.

Workbook for Parents

The workbook contains home practice exercises designed to help parents master the ideas and skills presented in each of the 19 core program sessions. The homework exercise for each session includes a review of the main ideas, practical examples, practice exercises, and a main homework assignment. Through this structured program, the professional continuously interacts with the parents in ways that foster a positive parenting self-concept. In turn, parents learn the importance of interacting with their children in ways that help develop a positive self-concept in each child.

Although this ECPS program is structured to provide a curriculum for group instruction, the concepts and skills are equally applicable to one-on-one consultations with parents of young children in a variety of settings.