Welcome to Kentucky Family Policy

This blog is dedicated to examining issues facing the Commonwealth of Kentucky and providing a nonpartisan, family perspective on public policy making. We hope to provide a forum for Kentuckians to review and discuss current legislative actions and the issues such actions are attempting to address. The opinions expressed herein belong solely to the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Kentucky, its affiliates, or its representatives.

What the authors of this blog will contribute:
1) Summarize current state, national, and international research related to topics relevant to current legilative actions.
2) Describe Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service programs and activities currently addressing issues related to legilative actions in the various counties.
3) Provide expert commentaries via podcasts and videocasts on issues relevant to current legilative actions.

Please see "Priority Bills" section on the right for a short list of the most current legislative actions relevant to the family focus of this blog

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Parent education can decrease acting out behaviors in children

Research has shown that some parent education programs are beneficial and effective. In one study, investigators developed and tested a six-week program called, “Parenting the Strong-Willed Child (PSWC).” Seventy-one families with children ages 2 through 8 years who were enrolled in Head Start Centers participated in the free program. All children had high levels of acting out behaviors, including not following parents’ directions when they were disciplined.

At the end of the six-week PSWC program, parents reported several improvements.
  • Their children reduced both the frequency and intensity of their behavioral problems.
  • Parents saw a significant decrease in parenting stress
  • Parents used fewer overly permissive parenting behaviors.
  • Parents were less emotional reactive while disciplining their children.
  • Improvements were maintained 6 months after the program ended.

Children who act out tend to make worse grades. These children also may cause disruptions that affect the quality of education for other students. This study demonstrates that targeted parent education programs can be helpful in decreasing child behavior problems, which can have positive effects not only on the children themselves, but also on their families and classmates.