A qualitative exploration of parents' views following attendance at a Webster Stratton Incredible Years Parenting Programme

Parenting plays a vital role in determining children‟s future life opportunities and irrespective of the skills and resources parents bring to the task all parents can find parenting challenging on occasions. This study explored the views of parents who attended a Webster Stratton Incredible Years Parenting Programme for parents of pre-school children at a local Children‟s Centre. Families living in known socially deprived areas of a local outer London borough were targeted. The group parenting programme was delivered over a period of ten weeks focusing on positive behaviour management strategies using praise and rewards with an emphasis on developing play and communication skills. A home visit to support the development of play skills was offered to some families.
A qualitative design methodology was used to elicit parents‟ views about their reasons for attending the programme and any changes they perceived in their own and their children‟s behaviour as a result.
Thirteen parents were interviewed in their homes approximately six months after the completion of the programme. The data from the interviews was analysed using thematic analysis. Six key themes and a number of sub-themes were identified. Parents cited a number of practical, emotional and social reasons for attending the programme. Parents reported substantial changes in their behaviour and a greater awareness of the link between these and their children‟s behaviour. They reported a
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greater sense of self-efficacy and valued being part of a group. For these parents participating, a group parenting programme was viewed as a positive experience. A number of parents thought the programme needed to be extended to incorporate support after the completion of the programme. The research also highlighted parental views of how their own upbringing and childhood experiences had impacted on them as parents.