The Active Parenting Programs of Dr. Michael H. Popkin are video-based, which means that all of the skills that are taught have video scenes that depict how each skill is most effectively employed.

1. 1,2,3,4 Parents! – for parents of children ages one to four,
2. Active Parenting Now – the latest version of the basic skill-building program for parents
   of children ages five to 12 years of age.
3. Active Parenting of Teens – for parents of youth 13 to 19 years of age,
4. Active Parenting Today for Jewish Families

All of these programs combine the use of the videos, activities and discussion to help parents raise responsible and cooperative children. They all demonstrate non-violent discipline skills and effective encouragement skills.

The research studies on the effectiveness of these programs show that parents are extremely appreciate of what they learn and that their participation in the programs significantly improve their parenting. Some of those research studies are available in the book, Parent Training Today: A Social Necessity, written by CICC’s founder and director, Dr. Kerby Alvy.

Below are the topics and skills that are covered and taught in each program version, and the various ways that each program can be presented.

1,2,3,4 Parents! – Three 90 minutes sessions for parents of children one to four years of age. Also available in Spanish.

• Getting Acquainted
• Parenting: A Special Job
• The Ages and Stages of Development
• How Will You Parent?
• Building The Bond Between Your Child and You
• Activities To Try At Home

• Share and Tell
• How To Use Non-Violent Discipline Skills
• Trips for Avoiding Accidents and Problems
• The “A-C-T” of Parenting
• About Rules

• Choices and Consequences
• The Power of Encouragement
• Caring For The Caregiver

1. Video and Discussion Program This version teaches the entire program as a three session class, 90 minutes each. The Leader’s Guide, included in the Instructor’s Kit, indicates when to play the video and when to stop for discussion. The Parent’s Workbook offers parents examples, charts and worksheets so they can practice their new skills at home.

2. Video Library This version can be used for in-home visits or for checking out to parents. It contains the same great video scenes from the discussion program, rearranged by topic and united by additional narration. The three stand-alone videos can be used with or without a leader. The videos are entitled:

   What You Need to Know About Your 1-to-4 Year Old

   Discipline and Beyond

   Building Better Behavior

3. Lunch and Learn Program This version, which comes with the three basic videos, makes it easy for the program to be offered as three short (30 – 40 minute) parenting classes.

Active Parenting Now – Six Two-Hour Sessions for Parents of Children Ages Five to Twelve: Happy Families Aren’t Born…They’re Made.

• Styles of Parenting
• Mutual Respect and How To Get It
• “Method of Choice”
• Drugs, Sexuality and Violence
• Caring for the Caregiver

• Emotional Intelligence
• Handling Problems
• Active Communication
• The Think-Feel-Do Cycle

• Teaching Responsibility
• Effective Non-Violent Discipline
• “I” Messages
• Logical Consequences

• Why Children Misbehave
• The Four Goals of Behavior
• The FLAC Method of Defusing Power Struggles

• Success and Failure Cycles
• The BANK Method of Encouragement
• Stimulating Independence

• Parents Influencing Events
• Family Meetings

This program can also be presented and taught three different ways:/p>

1. Video and Discussion Program This is the program version that is designed to be taught in six, two-hour sessions. The Leader’s Guide, which is included in the Instructor’s Kit along with the videos, gives step-by-step instructions on how to lead each session and how to integrate the videos. Parents follow along using their Parent’s Guides.

2. Video Library Consists of six videotapes which can be used for numerous purposes, including being loaned to parents for self-teaching purposes. The tapes are:

   Parenting in the 21st Century: What Is Your Style and How Does It Influence Your Child?

   Active Communication: How To Win Cooperation With Your Child

   Effective Discipline: How To Raise a Responsible Child

   Sidestepping the Power Struggle: Redirecting Your Child’s Misbehavior

   Building Character, Courage, and Self-Esteem in Your Child

   The Magic of Family Meetings: Teaching Problem-Solving and Positive Values

3. The Lunch and Learn Program This version, which comes with the six basic videos of the program, makes it easy for the program to be offered in a series of six short (50 – 60 minute) parenting classes.

Active Parenting of Teens – Six Two-Hour Sessions for Parents of Youth 13 to 19 Years of Age

• Current Teen Issues
• Styles of Parenting
• Drugs, Sexuality and Violence: The Problem

• Building Courage and Self-Esteem
• Drugs, Sexuality and Violence: The “Think-Feel-Do” Cycle

• Problem-Solving
• Five Goals of Teen Behavior
• Problem-Prevention Talks
• Drugs, Sexuality and Violence

• Respectful Discipline Skills
• Mutual Respect
• Drugs, Sexuality and Violence: Stages of Drug Use

• Effective Communication Skills
• Avoiding Communication Skills
• Drugs, Sexuality, Violence and Communication

• Family Talks
• Family Council Meetings
• Drugs, Sexuality and Violence and Active Problem-Solving

This Active Parenting Program can also be presented and taught three ways:

1. Video and Discussion Program This program version is designed to be taught in six, two-hour sessions. The Leader’s Guide, included in the program kit, provides step-by-step instructions on when to show the video and how to lead the activities and discussion. Parents follow along using their Parent’s Guides, which offer examples and activities so they can practice the skills at home.

2. Video Library This version consists of six videotapes (approximately 30 minutes each) which present all of the program topics and skills. Various uses can be made, including loaning the tapes to parents for self-instruction purposes. The six videos are:

   What’s Your Parenting Style? And How Does It Influence Your Teen?

   Your Teen’s Success Cycle: How To Build Self-Esteem, Courage and Positive Behavior

   Sidestepping the Power Struggle: How To Redirect Your Teen’s Misbehavior

   Effective Discipline: How To Raise a Responsible Teen

   Active Communication: How To Win Cooperation With Your Teen

   The Magic of Family Meetings: How They Solve Problems and Teach Values

3. The Lunch and Learn Program This version, which comes with the six videotapes, makes it possible for the program to be presented in a series of six short (50 – 60 minute) parenting classes.

Active Parenting Today for Jewish Families – A Six-Session Program That Puts Thousands of Years of Jewish Wisdom and Philosophy to Work for Jewish Families

This new version of the Active Parenting Today Program uses entertaining video, Jewish stories, and discussion to provide participants with:

• A deeper understanding of Jewish values related to parenting and family life

• Stories and references that can be used to discuss important topics with children

• Insights to and awareness that help parents shape their children’s understanding and approach to life

• Jewish activities and rituals to enrich family life and enhance the bond between parent and child

Jewish values, activities and rituals are taught alone with the following topics and skills:

• Styles of Parenting
• Method of Choice Technique

• Building Coverage and Self-Esteem

• Why Children Misbehave

• Effective Discipline Skills
• “I” Messages
• Natural and Logical Consequences
• Mutual Respect

• Effective Communication Skills
• Avoiding Communication Blocks

• How To Hold Family Meetings
• Problem-Solving in Groups
• Saying No To Drugs

The Leader’s Guide and Supplemental Jewish Leader’s guide, which are included in the program kit, provide step-by-step instructions on when to show the video vignettes that demonstrate the program’s skills and when to stop for discussion.

Parents follow along using their Parent’s Guides, which offer examples and activities so they can practice their new skills at home.

Bring an Active Parenting Program to Your Community

CICC can arrange to have a professional instructor come to your community and deliver an Active Parenting class.

You can also bring the various Active Parenting programs to your area by obtaining the complete Instructor’s Kits of training manuals and videotapes. If you are already a skilled parenting educator or group leader, you will be able to use these instructional materials in learning how to run the program on your own.

In addition, you can learn about and use the strategies from the Active Parenting programs by obtaining the Parent’s Guides.

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