Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
Parent education for families with children elementary school-age, preschool through 5th grade, was identified as a need by Families First of Cedar County Council members. Families First is recognized as Cedar County’s child abuse prevention council by Prevent Child Abuse Iowa. PCAIA funded a grant to provide two, Building Successful Youth, parent education series. The Hoover Elementary School, West Branch, was selected as one of the sites.

Response:
This parent education project provides a continuum of learning experiences that reinforces the parenting skills emphasized in Birth - 5 programs in Cedar County. Research has shown that parent education in these the early childhood years helps children be successful during the elementary school years.

Parent education in the elementary and middle school years is equally important. Helping parents successfully deal with the myriad issues that surface when their child enters their school years is the goal of this project. Families First of Cedar County and Iowa State University Extension in Cedar County provided the leadership for this parenting series that included overseeing and supporting the work of the trained facilitator for the project. The West Branch School District provided facilities and assisted in marketing the series.

Impact:
The Building Successful Youth parent education series began on February 25 and concluded on April 7, 2008. The format for Building Successful Youth was 6, 2-hour group-based sessions using the Active Parenting Now video-based curriculum. Nine parents enrolled and completed the series. Fourteen of the sixteen children from the eight families represented were in the targeted age group. All of the participants reported increased one-on-one quality time with their children and improvement in parent-child communication and discipline by setting limits and providing choices.

A sampling of participant comments follows:
Quality Time -
“I knew this was important, but focusing on it helped our relationship.”
“We worked harder to spend time together.”

Communication -
“Using questions really helped me help my son learn to solve his own problems.”
“I didn’t realize I was doing so many things to block communication.”
“I’m more responsive to my daughter, I’ve learned to give her attention positively and to ignore her when she is demanding it.”
“We listen to each other more.”

Setting Limits -
“Using choices really works.”
“It is hard to think up choices, so writing them down in class was good.”
“I’m giving choices all the time now.”
“We have less fighting and general stress around daily activities.”

The following parent experience speaks to the parenting skills learned and applied by participants: “This parenting class helped me in two significant ways. First, it showed me that I am not alone in my concerns and stresses about raising my children. Not that we appreciate other’s pain, however, it is nice to be reminded that we are facing similar struggles together. I knew that going in, but the physical reminder was critical to it penetrating my brain. The other facet of the class that has been extremely helpful and continues to be four months later is the “choice” concept. Working the kids into the direction of making their own choices, therefore owning their own problems has allowed me to be more of a parent and less of a mediator. We continue to go through some pretty intense temper tantrums, but the process of working through them has helped my child, my husband and I feel much better about outcome much more quickly. It is productive problem solving and, yes, the frequency (tantrums) has been reduced. This class helped give me some excellent guidelines for handling routine, albeit stressful, situations in a methodical and loving way. Thank you!”

Contact:
Wendy Peterson
Clinton County Extension
331 East 8th Street
DeWitt, IA 52742
563-659-5125
wpeterso@iastate.edu