Online course: Everyday Parenting: The ABCs of Child Rearing

Dates: any time

Duration: 21 hours

Rating: 4.9 / 5.0 out of 1560 ratings (see total ranking of online courses here)

Participating countries: any country

Apply here: Application form

Organizer: Yale University at Coursera

Cost: FREE or $49 with sharable certificate

Everyday Parenting: The ABCs of Child Rearing

Everyday Parenting gives you access to a toolkit of behavior – change techniques that will make your typical day in the home easier as you develop the behaviors you would like to see in your child. The lessons provide step-by-step instructions and demonstrations to improve your course of action with both children and adolescents. Among many techniques, you will learn how even simple modifications to tone of voice and phrasing can lead to more compliance. The course will also shed light on many parenting misconceptions and ineffective strategies that are routinely used.

The key to the course is practice. It is not enough to know the strategies; you have to do them to reap the rewards. Using the techniques on a temporary basis will lead to permanent change. Chances are your parenting is perfectly fine and working the way you would like. But if you have any frustrations with your child or would like improve your effectiveness in changing your child’s behavior, these videos will be a very useful guide. Subtitles available in Chinese and Spanish.

Instructor

 

Programme

WEEK 1: 5 hours to complete

The ABCs : Part 1 – Antecedents & Behaviors

Module 1 overviews the course structure and outlines the ABC formula for behavior-change programs. The “A” in the ABC stands for Antecedents and covers what to do before the behavior. The “B” represents Behavior and outlines working on the behavior itself – how to shape behavior by breaking it down into doable steps, practice the behavior repeatedly through simulations, and model the behavior. The course kicks off with a “C” (Consequence) because learning how to praise your child in the special way may be the most useful and versatile technique in the series.

Learn how to change your child’s behavior
Praise Explanation
Praise
Antecedents
Antecedents Practice Exercise
Shaping
Simulation
Modeling
Caleb, Age 3 – saying “no” all the time

WEEK 2: 6 hours to complete

The ABCs: Part 2 – Consequences

Module 2 focuses on the “C” in the ABC formula which is what comes after the behavior such as praise, rewards, attention, or punishment.

Positive Opposite
Point Programs
Attending & Planned Ignoring
Punishment Basics
Punishment Practice Exercise
Time Out from Reinforcement
Spanking and Alternatives
Elijah, Age 6 – Getting ready in the morning
Siblings, Ages 8 and 5 – complaining about each other

WEEK 3: 4 hours to complete

Advanced ABCs – Troubleshooting and Adolescents

Module 3 takes all the ABC techniques into consideration and outlines ways to improve and expand upon the parenting tools. Learn how to modify techniques for your maturing adolescent along with new techniques to foster communication with your child.

Troubleshooting: Part 1 – The Basics
Troubleshooting: Part 2 – Advanced Techniques
Adolescents: Part 1
Adolescents: Part 2
Jasmine, Age 14 – using her phone constantly

WEEK 4: 5 hours to complete

Special Topics and Conclusion

Module 4 moves beyond the ABC techniques and considers the larger family environment, misconceptions that might hold you back from implementing an effective behavior-change program, helping your child in school, and warning signs that your child may need professional help along with tips on how to find viable treatments.

Nurturing Family Environment
Common Misconceptions
School Behaviors: Part 1 – Handling Problems
School Behaviors: Part 2 – Building Competencies
Seeking Professional Help: Part 1
Seeking Professional Help: Part 2
Kai, Age 9 – disrupting the classroom
Conclusion