The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. Positive Discipline has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Parent Training, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

Based on the work of Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs, Positive Discipline promotes an internal locus of control, self-regulation, understanding others' perspectives, and the desire to contribute in meaningful ways to the community. The model can be categorized as a form of “authoritative” parenting – one which promotes strong parent to child connection, as well as clear boundaries/limits.

Positive Discipline is taught in groups using an experiential model. Participants engage with the material through role play and activities that invite them to connect the new material with their current life. The model also gives parents/care-givers the opportunity to practice new skills within the safe environment of the class.

Target Population: Parents of children who are typically developing (infants through teens) and teachers of children (toddlers through teens) who are typically-developing. Parents, teachers, and service providers of children with special needs (infants through teens), including children with disorders of attachment, children on the autism spectrum and children exposed to trauma.

For children/adolescents ages: 0 – 17

For parents/caregivers of children ages: 0 – 17

Class sessions utilize one of the Positive Discipline book series depending on the client audience, (i.e., Positive Discipline for Parenting Preschoolers, Positive Discipline for Parenting in Recovery, etc.) No matter the size, frequency or duration, the curriculum is taught experientially, taking the learning from the head to the heart and deepening the integration and behavioral change.

Session format:

• A warm-up
• Parenting Information: Chapter discussion, mini-lecture, or activity (Including an “Introduction to Adlerian Philosophy” at the first class)
• Experiential activities
• Parents Helping Parents Problem Solving Steps
• Establishing a practice (homework related to topic)

Core concepts covered in sessions:

• Long term vs. short term parenting
• Cultural competency
• Adlerian concepts overview
• Belonging and significance
• Belief Behind Behavior: thinking, feeling, deciding (getting in child’s shoes)
• Mutual Respect
• Self-care and adult development
• Understanding self
• Parenting styles
• Development/temperament /current brain science
• Firmness/setting limits
• Kind and firm at the same time
• Developing autonomy
• Mistaken goals
• Encouragement
• Solutions
• Mistakes are opportunities to learn
• Family Meetings
• Emotions and emotional regulation
• Parents helping Parents Problem Solving Steps
• Taking time for training/ skill building (parents and children)

Positive Discipline was designed with a child/adolescent component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms for children/adolescents ages 0 – 17:

• Relationship challenges, behavior challenges, power struggles, sibling fights, communication problems, emotional and self-regulation (parent and child) problems, lack of motivation and follow through, problems with routines, problems with family work, homework challenges, problems following disciplinary actions, and lack of mutual respect

Services Involve Family/Support Structures:

This program involves the family or other support systems in the individual's treatment: Through regular Family Meetings, the family system is actively engaged in collaboratively problem-solving solutions to the behavior challenges experienced by children in the family.  Through family meetings, family members learn to work cohesively to plan family events, take responsibility for family chores, and acknowledge and encourage one another for efforts made to support the health and well being of the family.

Positive Discipline was designed with a parent/caregiver component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms for parents/caregivers of children ages 0 – 17:

• Caregivers of children with behavior challenges as listed in Child Component section

Positive Discipline was designed to be conducted in a group setting; but has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended group size:

Recommended class size is 15 to 25, but classes are sometimes up to 40 adults. Large groups of 100 - 300 are usually one time introductory presentations or workshops. Experiential exercises can be utilized even in large group settings.

Recommended Intensity:

Weekly 1½ to 2-hour class

Recommended Duration:

7 – 10 weeks (14 or more total hours recommended)

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Community Agency
• Residential Treatment Center
• School

Positive Discipline includes a homework component:

Assignments are given out of the book and assigned in class to practice concepts learned at home, along with reading supportive material from a Positive Discipline book.

Positive Discipline has materials available in a language other than English:

Spanish

For information on which materials are available in this language, please check on the program's website or contact the program representative (contact information is listed at the bottom of this page).

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

• Room with chairs for participants and facilitator arranged in a circle.
• Easel and easel pad, markers.
  

There are no minimum educational requirements for being trained in this program.

There is a manual that describes how to implement this program, and there is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Kathy Rinehart, Executive Director
  Positive Discipline Association
  PositiveDisciplineED@gmail.com
  phone: (866) 767-3472

Training is obtained:

• Training is provided throughout the United States by Certified Positive Discipline
• Trainers listed on the website.
• Courses are offered in many places in the US.
• Training is also provided by DVD for people without access to a trainer.
• Advanced training is provided by Positive Discipline Lead Trainers at least yearly in the U.S.

Number of days/hours:

• To become a certified as a Positive Discipline Parenting Educator: 14-16 hours or 11.5 hours for the DVD training, plus completion of activities and an assessment
• To become a certified in Positive Discipline in the Classroom: 14 hours
• To become a Positive Discipline Trainer (all of the below)
• -Certification as a Positive Discipline Parent Educator (14-16 hours)
• Certification in Positive Discipline in the Classroom (14 hours)
• Documented/evaluated practice (teach two 7-week parenting classes with submitted excellent evaluations)
• Advanced Candidate Training (24 hours)

Additional Resources:

There currently are additional qualified resources for training:

See list on Positive Discipline website.

This program has been reviewed and it was determined that this program lacks the type of published, peer-reviewed research that meets the CEBC criteria for a scientific rating of 1 – 5. Therefore, the program has been given the classification of "NR - Not able to be Rated." It was reviewed because it was identified by the topic expert as a program being used in the field, or it is being marketed and/or used in California with children receiving services from child welfare or related systems and their parents/caregivers. Some programs that are not rated may have published, peer-reviewed research that does not meet the above stated criteria or may have eligible studies that have not yet been published in the peer-reviewed literature. For more information on the "NR - Not able to be Rated" classification, please see the Scientific Rating Scale.

Child Welfare Outcomes: Not Specified

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Positive Discipline.