Parents Plus Children’s Programme (PPCP) is for parents with concerns about the behaviour of a child between 6 and 11 years old. It is delivered by two practitioners to parents over nine sessions. Some sessions are offered to parents individually and some are delivered to groups of up to 15 parents. During each session, parents learn strategies for encouraging positive child behaviour and implementing
age-appropriate discipline.
The information above is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
6 to 11 years old
Group
Parents Plus Children’s Programme (PPCP) is one of eight Parents Plus! interventions adapted specifically for families with concerns about the behaviour of a child between 6 and 11 years old. It is intended for use in both specialist clinical settings, such as child mental health services, and in frontline community and primary care settings, where the emphasis is largely preventative.
PPCP is delivered by two practitioners with a master’s qualification or higher in psychology or related mental health profession. Parents attend nine sessions, lasting approximately two hours each. Groups sessions can include up to 15 parents.
The overall aim of PPCP is to improve family relationships and reduce challenging child behaviour through practical, evidence-based strategies. The group sessions are structured by video clips involving both actor and non-actor parents interacting both positively and negatively with their children. Topics covered in these DVDs include building a positive parent–child relationship, encouraging child cooperation, and responding to misbehavior. The DVD input is reinforced through group discussion, practice exercises, skills role-play, homework activities, and handouts.
In addition to the group sessions, parents may receive individual one-hour preparatory sessions. Family sessions are offered separately, consisting of four individual sessions with the parent and child, focusing on play and problem-solving activities.
6 to 11 years old
Parents who have concerns about their child’s behaviour, learning, or emotional development.
Disclaimer: The information in this section is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
Science-based assumption
Challenging child behaviours during primary school increase the risk of behavioural problems persisting into adolescence.
Science-based assumption
Effective parenting behaviours help the child to regulate their own behaviour and reduce the risk of child behavioural problems persisting
Ineffective parenting strategies can increase the risk of child behavioural problems persisting over time.
Science-based assumption
Parents often benefit from additional support for managing particularly challenging child behaviour.
Intervention
Parents learn strategies for:
Communicating effectively with their child
Reinforcing positive child behaviour
Discouraging challenging child behaviour through age-appropriate discipline.
Short-term
Parents implement effective parenting strategies in the home
Parents’ confidence increases
Parent–child interaction improves.
Medium-term
Children’s behaviour improves.
Long-term
Children are at less risk of antisocial behaviour in adolescence
Children are more likely to engage positively with others.
Parents who have concerns about their child’s behavioural, learning, or emotional development, aged between 6 and 11 years old.
Parents Plus Children’s Programme is delivered in nine sessions of 2.5 hours’ duration each by two practitioners to groups of up to 12 parents.
The two Parents Plus Facilitators who deliver PPCP are typically mental health professionals with a master’s qualification or higher.
The practitioners have 22.5 hours of intervention training. Booster training of practitioners is recommended.
It is recommended that practitioners are supervised by one host-agency supervisor and one intervention developer supervisor).
Intervention fidelity is maintained through the following processes:
Contact person: John Sharry
Organisation: Parents Plus Charity
Email address: admin@parentsplus.ie
Website: www.parentsplus.ie
*Please note that this information may not be up to date. In this case, please visit the listed intervention website for up to date contact details.
PPCP’s most rigorous evidence comes from an RCT and comparison group study, both conducted in Ireland.
The RCT, conducted in a clinical setting, has evidence consistent with Foundations’ Level 2+ evidence strength criteria. This study observed statistically significant improvements in PPCP’s children’s behaviour in comparison to children whose parents did not receive the intervention.
The second evaluation, conducted in a community setting, has evidence consistent with Foundation’s Level 2 evidence strength criteria. This study observed improvements in parents’ reports of PPCP’s children’s behaviour, as well as reductions in their child’s hyperactive behaviour.
Parents Plus Children’s Programme has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome, but we cannot be confident that the intervention caused the improvement.
| Identified in search | 3 |
| Studies reviewed | 2 |
| Meeting the L2 threshold | 2 |
| Meeting the L3 threshold | 0 |
| Contributing to the L4 threshold | 0 |
| Ineligible | 1 |
| Study design | Comparison group study |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sample characteristics | This study involved parents of 99 children aged 6 to 11 with significant behavioural problems. Participants included children with and without developmental difficulties. |
| Race, ethnicities, and nationalities | Not reported |
| Population risk factors | 69% children experienced behavioural difficulties, while 31% experienced developmental difficulties. Most children (97.6%) had behavioural problems. Some had other concerns such as emotional problems (42.9%), overactivity/inattention (38.1%) and developmental delay (23.8%). |
| Timing |
|
| Child outcomes |
|
| Other outcomes | Reduced parental stress (parent self-report) |
| Study rating | 2+ |
| Citations | Coughlin, M., Sharry, J., Fitzpatrick, C., Guerin, S. & Drumm, M. (2009) A controlled clinical evaluation of the Parents Plus Children’s Programme: A video-based programme for parents of children aged 6 to 11 with behavioural and developmental problems. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 14 (4), 541–558. |
| Study design | RCT |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sample characteristics | The study involved 75 parents of children aged 6 to 11 years attending three primary schools in Ireland. The sample included parents self-selecting to participate, with some families targeted due to being identified as ‘most in need’. Most parents were mothers (87%) and children involved were not receiving clinical services at the time. |
| Race, ethnicities, and nationalities | Not reported |
| Population risk factors | Some parents were under stress due to psychosocial and economic challenges. |
| Timing |
|
| Child outcomes |
|
| Other outcomes |
|
| Study rating | 2 |
| Citations | Hand, A., McDonnell, E., Honari, B. & Sharry, J. (2013) A community-led approach to delivery of the Parents Plus Children’s Programme for the parents of children aged 6–11. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology. 13 (2), 87–90. |
The following studies were identified for this intervention but did not count towards the intervention’s overall evidence rating. An intervention receives the same rating as its most robust study or studies.
Hand, A., Raghallaigh, C. N., Cuppage, J., Coyle, S. & Sharry, J. (2013) A controlled clinical evaluation of the Parents Plus Children’s Programme for parents of children aged 6–12 with mild intellectual disability in a school setting. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 18 (4), 536–555.
Note on provider involvement: This provider has agreed to Foundations’ terms of reference (or the Early Intervention Foundation's terms of reference), and the assessment has been conducted and published with the full cooperation of the intervention provider.
Rated 1: Set up and delivery is low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.
Rated 2: Set up and delivery is medium-low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £100–£499.
Rated 3: Set up and delivery is medium cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £500–£999.
Rated 4: Set up and delivery is medium-high cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £1,000–£2,000.
Rating 5: Set up and delivery is high cost. Equivalent to an estimated unit cost of more than £2,000.
Set up and delivery cost is not applicable, not available, or has not been calculated.
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Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing child maltreatment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Enhancing school achievement & employment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing crime, violence and antisocial behaviour: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing substance abuse: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing risky sexual behaviour & teen pregnancy: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing obesity and promoting healthy physical development: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Rated 2: Has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome from a quantitative impact study, but there is not yet evidence of causal impact.
Rated 2+: Meets the level 2 rating and the best available evidence is based on a study which is more rigorous than a level 2 standard but does not meet the level 3 standard.
Rated 3: Has evidence of a short-term positive impact from at least one rigorous study.
Rated 3+: Meets the level 3 rating and has evidence from other studies with a comparison group at level 2 or higher.
Rated 4: Has evidence of a long-term positive impact through at least two rigorous studies.
Rated 4+: Meets the level 4 rating and has at least a third study contributing to the Level 4 rating, with at least one of the studies conducted independently of the intervention provider.
Rating has a *: The evidence base includes mixed findings i.e., studies suggesting positive impact alongside studies, which on balance, indicate no effect or negative impact.
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