This program is delivered to parents or caregivers of children from birth to 5 years old or early childhood staff and is intended to impact parents, providers, and children.

Active Parenting: First Five Years (previously the 1, 2, 3, 4 Parents! Program) is a community-based parenting program that is designed to teach basic parenting skills to new parents, caregivers, and early childhood staff.

No peer-reviewed publications evaluating the effectiveness of this program were located.

Active Parenting: First Five Years intends to strengthen parenting skills, enhance self-care, and foster the development of healthy and well-adjusted children. This program can be delivered in three formats: a standard program kit that includes video and discussion, a video series, or a Lunch & Learn kit. Session topics include the following:

• Session 1: You and Your Child – review the purpose of and different styles of parenting, the benefits of mindfulness, stages of child development, the importance of self-care, and creating a healthy parent-child bond;
• Session 2: Preventing Problems – understand children’s brains and what they require for healthy brain development, use non-violent discipline methods, set rules, create healthy routines, and show love to children;
• Session 3: Encouraging Positive Behavior – support children and show confidence in them, learn to manage tantrums, and provide choices and consequences; and
• Session 4: Preparing for School Success – review six techniques to enhance school readiness, including encourage play and learning, read and talk with children, limit screen time, teach social skills, and foster independence.

Sessions may also be delivered using PowerPoint.

The original Active Parenting Discussion Program was created in 1983; however, the extent to which the Active Parenting: First Five Years program has been implemented was not located.

There are no requirements for program facilitators. Leader’s Guides provide all the information needed to implement this program; however, 1-day, online leader training workshops are available and cost $179 per person. Please visit https://activeparenting.com/for-leaders/research-studies-tools-and-tests/leader-training-workshops/active-parenting-first-five-years-one-day-leader-training-workshop/ for more information.

Considerations for implementing this program include acquiring participant buy-in; choosing which delivery method is best for the intended audience; understanding program materials will need to be purchased; locating space to hold sessions; and obtaining necessary equipment, such as a DVD player, TV, and computer.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing Active Parenting: First Five Years, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Implementation is flexible, and the program can be offered as a 4-session comprehensive program (sessions 1-4), as a 3-session core parenting skills program (sessions 1-3), or as a 1-session program that focuses on enhancing school success (session 4 only).

The standard program kit costs $400 to $600; the video series costs $300; and the Lunch & Learn Kit costs $350 to $600. Please visit https://activeparenting.com/product/first-five-years-of-parenting/#product-purchase-options for additional information on program materials and costs.

To move the Active Parenting: First Five Years to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least one year from the beginning of the program or at least six months from program completion.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals.  Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact Active Parenting USA Headquarters by mail 1290 Kennestone Circle, Suite D-101, Marietta, GA 3006-6022, phone 1-800-825-0060, fax 1-770-429-0334, email cservice@activeparenting.com, or visit https://activeparenting.com/about-us/contact-us/

https://activeparenting.com/product/first-five-years-of-parenting/