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Positive Relationships: Parenting programmes - Home truths

An early intervention programme called Parents as First Teachers is improving parent-child interactions, the home environment and, as a result, child outcomes, writes Annette Rawstrone

The mother and son are absorbed as they play with home-made playdough together. It’s an activity that they’ve never done at home before and the two-year-old, who is often hard to settle, has relaxed and his breathing has slowed down. A project worker quietly observes and comments on the way the mother is working with her child, accentuating positive behaviour and giving prompts when needed.

It is a low-key, inexpensive activity, but the payback for the mother and child is immediate. The mother is amazed by the simplicity and has gained so much from the experience that she later emails the Parents as First Teachers (PAFT) project worker to thank her and say that it has helped her to understand her son more.

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