Helicopter parents should step back and watch, study recommends

Date:
July 30, 2020
Source:
Edith Cowan University
Summary:
Researchers conducted the world's first data-driven study of
parenting classes based on the Respectful Approach intervention. The
Respectful Approach, modeled on Resources for Infant Educators
(RIE)TM, guides parents to treat young children as capable and
independent humans who can flourish if given safe space and freedom
from too much adult direction.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Sitting back and watching your toddler explore their world is good for
parent mental health, a new study has found.


==========================================================================
As part of her PhD at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, Mandy Richardson conducted the world's first data-driven study of parenting
classes based on the Respectful Approach intervention.

The Respectful Approach, modelled on Resources for Infant Educators
(RIE)TM, guides parents to treat young children as capable and independent humans who can flourish if given safe space and freedom from too much
adult direction.

Parents were invited to take part in a class for infants or toddlers
over six weeks where they observed their children in uninterrupted play
in a room with age appropriate toys.

The infants and toddlers were free to investigate their environment and interact with other children while parents sat in the room and watched
with a facilitator. After an observation period, each class introduced
and discussed a topic related to the Respectful Approach.

At the end of the program, parents reported significantly lower stress
levels, with more confidence and a better understanding of their
children's capabilities.



========================================================================== Children make progress when given space and time Ms Richardson said the Respectful Approach is ultimately about building a trusting, lasting
bond with positive communication between parents and children. There is
less focus on checklists and achieving milestones, with acknowledgement
that each child is different.

"Participants in the study reported worrying less about performance
pressure after attending the classes, which let them refocus on their relationship with their children," she said.

"As parents we tend to go and 'save' our children when they start to
struggle with something, instead of letting them try to resolve their
own challenges.

But if the children aren't looking for help, perhaps they can be left to
do their own thing and work it out themselves." Ms Richardson explained
the Respectful Approach helps to establish good patterns in early years
so children learn to build confidence in their abilities and to deal
with conflict in emotionally intelligent ways.

"Traditionally early behavioural interventions have predominantly focused
on modifying undesirable child behaviours," Ms Richardson said.

"By building good communication and a close parent-child bond, we can potentially prevent problems occurring in the long term." Ms Richardson
and her research supervisor Associate Professor Therese O'Sullivan are
now expanding the pilot study to track parents and children over three
years to determine whether the decline in parental stress levels has a
lasting impact and investigate long term outcomes in child development.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Edith_Cowan_University. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Amanda C. Richardson, Johnny Lo, Lynn Priddis, Therese
A. O'Sullivan. A
Quasi-Experimental Study of the Respectful Approach on Early
Parenting Competence and Stress. Journal of Child and Family
Studies, 2020; DOI: 10.1007/s10826-020-01762-w ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200730110121.htm

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