What is Parent Management Training (PMT)?

What is Parent Management Training?

One of the most important aspects of a healthy family environment is the behaviour of its children. If children are behaving properly, then the lifestyle of the family members starts affecting them. And in the case of negative child behaviour is due to disruptions in parental practices, mainly due to the adverse environment.

As the mental health in children continues to rise, there is a need for an efficient and cost-effective means to decrease these mental health crises. There are many parenting books in the market, but sometimes external support and coaching are required from professionals in managing both child and parent’s behaviour.

Inappropriate behaviour in children can sometimes be due to the attitude of their parents. For example, if the parents interfere excessively in their child’s life or someone else’s anger comes out on the children, or if there is discord in the house, it also affects the mentality of the children.

So, with the help of Parent Management Training Interventions, the parent-child bond can be improved and improve their children’s behaviour.

Let’s know in Details that what is Parent Management Training?

PMT or Parent Management Training or Parent Training is a treatment program for changing parenting behavior, improving parent-child bond, teaching parents how to improve their child’s behavior (pre-school and school-age) like aggression, short-tempered, following the wrong path, etc.

There are different Parent Management Training programs, and among various PMT programs, parents have to pick the sessions that suit their family best.

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This training program was started in the early 1960s as there was an urgent need for child guidance clinics in America. After research, it is found that normal treatment against the destructive behavior of young children is not efficient. Then various child psychologists decided to develop a new treatment program as per the behavioral principles of operant conditioning and applied behavior al analysis.

Thus, the behavior al model of the training program was created for Parent Management Training, which focuses on teaching parents to change their way of interaction with their children, like praising children for following the right directions and discussing the child’s negative behavior more openly with them. The training sessions are expanded from clinics to home and schools, parenting with siblings or ability to make friends, treating serious physiological problems in children, etc.

Key Points Of The Training Program Are –

• Stress management while parenting
• Focusing on the positive sides of their children
• Then start in the direction of disciplining and implementing PMT strategies
• The results of the PMT programs are not only limited to improvement in children’s behaviour but also effecting in improving parent-child relation, the environment of the family, social behaviour of children, better performance in school.

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Here are some of the programs that are related to PMT

Many programs are similar to Parent-Management Training, such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Positive Parenting Program (Triple P), etc. Parents are required to select the appropriate session according to their problems, their child’s age group, or the symptoms.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) – This therapy works with both parents and children. The sessions usually require 14-17 weeks. PCIT is ideal for kids ages 2 to 7. The therapy is mainly focused on how to interact positively and productively. It is done live, where a therapist watches the parents and their children performing given tasks through the one-way mirror.

Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) – Positive Parenting Program increases confidence and self-sufficiency in parents for managing their child’s behavior. This is useful for a wide range of children. Mostly only four sessions are needed, but the problem is serious; there are 12 sessions.

Limitations of PMT

Parent-Management Training is for the 3-13 age group, where only parents must consult the therapist. Further parents have to perform the taught lessons at their home. Usually, PMT takes ten sessions. The Therapy is ideal for children having anxiety, explosive anger, or extreme impulsiveness.

Although Parent Management Training Interventions have helped many families and parents manage their children’s behavior, some modifications are still needed in the therapy program for more effectiveness in PMTs programs. Although many children with inappropriate behavior benefit, 30% – 40% of children don’t show the desired results.

2 – 17 is the age that decides how human behavior will be in the future. So, children need more time and patience from their parents for better mental growth. And Parent Management Training surely will be helpful but with the condition that parents have to cooperate in the weekly sessions with the therapist fully.

Conclusion

Now you must understand that what is parent management training and what is the importance of parent management training in order to maintain a healthy environment at home while handling children. You can also share your views about what is parent management training with us here.