Parent education programs are designed to provide better parenting skills to parents, providing them with knowledge in various aspects of childcare and increasing their confidence to become proactive in their child’s education, welfare, and character development. Many different parent education models are used in these programs.

Parent education methods
Parent education can focus on many things, like providing knowledge about child care, health, and nutrition, child development, providing a safe environment for the child at home, participating in the child’s education and so on.

Parents education programs can be delivered as a home-based program or in a group setting. Better results seem to be achieved by using a combination of both these methods. Organizations that provide such training need to have well qualified and trained staff experienced in working with families and parents in various settings.

Many different models and approaches are used in parent education programs.

Some of the popular parent education models/methodologies
Some parent education models that are very popular and successful:

Baby nurturing programs
These focus on parents, especially mothers, of infants and children up to 4 years of age. It focuses on baby care, breastfeeding, food, health, and nutrition, ensuring child safety, attachment and bonding, preventing problems like Shaken Baby Syndrome, etc.

Period of PURPLE crying
This is targeted at parents of infants, discussing how to deal with normal baby crying, and teaching them the dangers of shaking their babies to stop them from crying.

1-2-3 Magic
This method trains parents in techniques to correct negative behavior in their children like tantrums, sulking, sibling rivalry, etc. It can also help parents instill good habits in their kids like getting up early in the morning, completing homework on time, etc. The target group is parents, grandparents, babysitters, etc., for children in the age group of 2 to 12 years.

Common sense parenting
Teaches parents to take a common sense approach in communicating with their children, enforcing discipline, helping them acquire skills like forming good relationships, decision making, self-control etc. This can help parents of children between the ages of 6 to 16.

24/7 Dad
This program’s curriculum has been designed by the National Fatherhood Initiative to involve fathers in their children’s well-being and development. It focuses on five essential characteristics of good fathers and can benefit fathers from various ethnic, religious, cultural backgrounds. Studies have found that involving a father in the child’s care and development increases the chances of success of parent education programs.

STEP Program
Systematic Training for Effective Parenting teaches parents positive approaches to fostering a good relationship between themselves and their children, good relationships among children, and ways to correct destructive approaches like the use of severe punishments and abusive techniques in instilling discipline. This can help families of infants to teenagers.

Circle of Security
This method encourages bonding and attachment between child and parent, enforcing positive approaches to child discipline and development, ensuring security for the child, encouraging self-reflection by the parent to identify personal issues that prevent the formation of a positive relationship with their children.

The Incredible Years
This method focuses on fostering parenting skills like positive discipline methods, skills in monitoring children’s behavior and habits, helping to instill good habits and behavior. Helps parents take an active part in their child’s social, emotional, and academic growth.

There are numerous other models and methodologies used in parenting education, based on the needs and the backgrounds of the target segments. Parent education programs are an essential and effective way to reduce child abuse and increase the chances for children across all segments of the population to have a better life.