The Five Protective Factors
Parental Resilience |
Social Connections |
Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development |
Concrete Support in Times of Need |
Children's Social and Emotional Development |
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Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
- Parents who understand normal child development are less likely to be abusive and more likely to nurture their children’s healthy development. Observing other children helps parents understand their own children in context.
- Parents often need timely help from someone they trust in order to address children’s problem behaviors, such as biting or hitting, without resorting to harsh discipline techniques.
- People who model alternative discipline techniques, males who serve in nurturing roles, and programs with a norm of non-violence demonstrate alternatives for parents.
- Parents of children with developmental or behavior problems or special needs require support and coaching in their parenting roles to reduce their frustration and provide the help their children need.
How Early Care and Education Programs Build It
- Informal daily interactions between parents and program staff, including coaching on issues such as biting, sharing toys, and bullying
- Parent education classes that use various approaches, including presenting information on developmental stages, teaching parents with children the same age in one group, etc.
- Observation space where parents can watch their child interact with others and learn new techniques from observing staff
