ABOUT TRIPLE P
Triple P is a comprehensive, evidence-based parenting and family support system designed to:
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Increase parents’ confidence and competence in raising children
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Improve the quality of parent-child relationships
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De-stigmatize parenting information and family support
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Make evidence-based parenting information and interventions widely accessible to parents
CORE PRINCIPLES & PARENTING STRATEGIES
The Triple P system is based on five core principles of positive parenting:
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Ensuring a safe, supervised and engaging environment
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Creating a positive learning environment that helps children learn to solve problems
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Using consistent, predictable and assertive discipline to help children learn to accept responsibility for their behavior and become aware of the needs of others
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Having realistic expectations, assumptions, and beliefs about children’s behavior
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Taking care of oneself as a parent so that it is easier to be patient, consistent and available to children
These principles are reflected in the 17 parenting strategies (skills) that are taught to parents.
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Strategies for Promoting Children’s Development |
Recommended Age |
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Developing Positive Relationships |
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Spending quality time with children |
Spend frequent, brief amounts of time in activities that the child is interested in |
All ages |
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Talking to children All ages |
Have conversations with children about their activities or interests |
All ages |
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Showing affection All ages |
Provide physical affection (e.g. hugging, cuddling, tickling, etc.) |
All ages |
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Encouraging Desirable Behavior |
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Using descriptive praise
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Provide encouragement by describing the behavior or action that is appreciated. |
All ages |
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Giving attention |
Provide positive non-verbal attention (e.g. smile, wink, pat on the back, etc.) |
All ages |
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Providing engaging activities |
Provide interesting, engaging and age-appropriate activities and materials |
|
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Teaching New Skills & Behaviors |
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Setting a good example
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Model (demonstrate) the behaviors that you want children to learn |
All ages |
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Using incidental teaching
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Use questions and prompts to respond to child-initiated interactions and promote learning |
All ages |
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Using Ask, Say, Do
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Use verbal and physical prompts to teach new skills |
All ages |
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Using Behavior Charts
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Use a chart to set goals and reinforce skill development |
All ages |
Parents are taught Strategies for Promoting Children’s Development before learning any of the following Strategies for Managing Misbehavior, and they are always given the opportunity to select which strategies they would like to try at home. The Triple P curriculum emphasizes that Strategies for Promoting Children’s Development help build a positive parent-child relationship, which is necessary in order for any of the Strategies for Managing Misbehavior to be effective.
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Strategies for Promoting Children’s Self-control
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Recommended Age |
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Managing Misbehavior (Challenging Behaviors) |
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Ground rules |
Establish fair, specific and enforceable rules |
3-12 years |
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Directed discussion |
Identify and rehearse the appropriate behavior |
3-12 years |
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Planned Ignoring |
Intentionally ignore a problem behavior instead of reacting or giving negative attention to the child |
1-7 years |
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Clear, Calm instructions |
Give a clear instruction to start a new task, or to stop a problem behavior and start the appropriate alternative behavior |
2-12 years |
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Logical consequences |
Remove the activity or privilege at the center of a problem for a brief, set amount of time; Return the activity or privilege so the child can try again |
2-12 years |
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Quiet time |
When a problematic or serious behavior occurs and the above strategies have not worked, move the child to the edge of the activity for a brief, set amount of time; return child to activity when s/he is calm so s/he can try again. |
18 months-10 years |
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Time out |
When the problematic or serious behavior continues and the above strategies haven’t worked, move child to an area away from others for a brief, set amount of time; Return child to activity when s/he is calm so s/he can try again. |
2-10 years |
LEVELS OF INTERVENTION
The Triple P system consists of five levels of interventions of increasing strength. Many of the
levels of interventions can be provided to individual families or to groups of families. The
availability of the multiple levels and the flexibility in service delivery method enables parents
to receive the intensity and format of services that will best meet their needs.
|
Level |
Description |
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Level 1--Universal |
Media –based parenting information campaign |
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Level 2--Selected |
Information and tips for specific parenting concerns provided in 1-2 brief sessions or in large-group seminars |
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Level 3--Primary Care |
Brief consultations about specific parenting concerns provided in 3-4 sessions |
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Level 4--Standard or Group |
In-depth training in positive parenting skills, offered as 10 week sessions to individual families (Standard) or 8-week groups (Group) |
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Level 5--Enhanced |
Additional support for families where parenting issues are compounded by parental stress and/or relationship difficulties |
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Level 5--Pathways |
Additional support for families at risk for child maltreatment due to anger management and/or negative attributions about their children’s behaviors |
AN EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE
Many published studies demonstrate the effectiveness of Triple P. Most recently, the Centers
for Disease Control funded a population study in South Carolina. Results from this study
showed that in the counties where Triple P was implemented, there was a decrease in the rates
of substantiated child abuse reports, out-of-home placements and emergency room visits for
childhood injuries. http://www.springerlink.com/content/a737l8k76218j7k2/fulltext.html
In addition, the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare identified Triple P as
one of only three parenting programs with a scientific rating of 1 (Well Supported by Research
Evidence). http://www.cebc4cw.org/program/8
TRIPLE P IN Connecticut
Triple P CT is a program of the Division of Family Services at the Office of Early Childhood, with funding and support from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. As of June 2014, over 100 practitioners in Hartford and 35 practitioners in 5 towns in Eastern CT-- Pomfret, Putnam, Killingly, Woodstock and Thompson-- are able to provide Levels 3 and 4 of Triple P. Practitioners work in various settings including community organizations, public schools, libraries, family resource centers, homes, hospitals, preschools, guidance offices, and faith-based settings.
TO FIND TRIPLE P SERVICES:
Visit—www.triplepct.com
Contact: Alice Ellovich at OEC--Alice. Ellovich@ct.gov or 860-713-5711
Diane Farquharson at TEEG—Diane F@teegonline.org
