This column from Virginia Bikas, Children’s Trust community capacity coach in Greenville, explains how parents can bring positivity to their families through Triple P (Positive Parenting Program). A new Level Up marketing campaign encourages parents to learn more about the program.
Back to school is just around the corner, and if we are all being honest, many of us have fallen out of the routine of keeping a regular schedule.
We know the time is fast approaching to start getting the kids back on track to waking up early and doing the homework dance after school each day. As the fun in the sun of summer break – activities, camps and vacations – comes to a close, parents understand that they must now help the kids make a smooth transition to the daily drill of school.
Virginia Bikas
You may ask, “Where do I start?”
Let’s check out some ways to “level up” your parenting game and get ready to start the school year in full stride.
Maybe you have heard about the power of the Positive Parenting Program, better known as Triple P. Or maybe you haven’t. In a nutshell, Triple P is an effective, evidence-based parenting program that offers simple, practical strategies to help parents build strong and healthy relationships, confidently manage their children’s behavior, and promote positive child development.
Triple P has been shown to work across different cultures, socioeconomic groups and in many kinds of family structures. The program gives strategies to caregivers to raise happy, confident kids and provides ideas that can make family life enjoyable.
Parents who have taken part in a Triple P session have shared in surveys some of the things they learned:
- “The importance of maintaining a schedule and allowing my children to relax after school before starting their homework makes SUCH a difference.”
- “Great class. I learned a lot about my child’s behavior and what I can do to better help them.”
- “Yelling starts with me. My children often behave as a result of what I do.”
- “It is nice to know I am not in this alone. To know I am not the only parent dealing with a difficult child, it is very comforting.”
All of us feel alone at times as parents in our struggles to maintain that balance of work, school, and daily family life. That feeling is often stronger when in a transition period like preparing the kids to go back to school. Know that you are not alone in this.
Triple P trained practitioners who are overseeing program sessions have discussed the benefits for participating parents and how much everyone loves the program. As the Children’s Trust community capacity coach in Greenville, I have sat in on sessions and watched the participants interact. It is also great hearing from parents who have taken previous Triple P classes on how they have implemented some of the strategies and how they have had such a positive impact on their family.
Through a grant from Children’s Trust of South Carolina and The Duke Endowment, Triple P is being offered in Greenville and Georgetown counties, with Greenville First Steps and Tidelands Health serving as the activating agencies in those respective counties. A new “Level Up” billboard campaign highlights this effort. Triple P South Carolina has many opportunities for you to level up your parenting game.
Please check out Triple P services in your area by visiting greenvilleparents.com or tidelandshealth.org/triplep.
