Triple P (parenting program)
Triple P – Positive Parenting Program is a multi-level parenting and family support system developed by Professor Matt Sanders and colleagues at the University of Queensland in Australia. It aims to prevent behavioral, emotional, and developmental problems in children by enhancing the knowledge, skills, and confidence of parents.
Triple P is based on social learning and cognitive-behavioral principles and offers a range of programs, from brief, targeted interventions to more intensive support. This tiered system allows parents to access the level of help that best suits their needs.
Key Principles of Triple P:
- Creating a positive learning environment: Encouraging warmth, responsiveness, and positive attention.
- Using assertive discipline: Setting clear expectations, using consistent consequences, and promoting self-regulation.
- Realistic expectations: Understanding child development and adjusting expectations accordingly.
- Taking care of yourself as a parent: Recognizing and managing stress, seeking support when needed, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Levels of Intervention:
Triple P provides a tiered approach, including:
- Level 1: Universal Triple P: Provides broad-based information to all parents through media campaigns, newsletters, and online resources.
- Level 2: Brief Triple P: Offers brief consultations or seminars for parents with specific concerns.
- Level 3: Group Triple P & Individual Triple P: Provides group or individual sessions for parents with more significant behavioral problems.
- Level 4: Enhanced Triple P: Offers intensive support, including individual sessions, home visits, and skills training for families with complex needs.
- Level 5: Pathways Triple P: This module addresses parental anger and conflict, as well as other factors that may interfere with effective parenting.
Effectiveness:
Extensive research has demonstrated the effectiveness of Triple P in improving child behavior, reducing parental stress, and enhancing family functioning. It has been implemented in numerous countries and is considered an evidence-based parenting program.
Criticisms:
Some criticisms of Triple P include the cost of training practitioners and delivering the program, as well as concerns about the generalizability of findings to diverse cultural contexts. While the program is designed to be culturally sensitive, adaptations may be needed to ensure its effectiveness in different communities.