Like many parents, Jose Pratts sometimes lost his temper when his children acted up. His oldest son, Noel, gave him the most trouble. And he’d find himself either yelling or taking away his son’s video games – neither of which worked to improve Noel’s behavior. Both ended up frustrated. Jose also didn’t know how to help his two youngest children get along better. Then, Jose and his wife, Zulma, found Triple P CT (Positive Parenting Program) −a program that offers support and information for families with children up to age 12.
By participating in the Triple P classes with other parents at SAND school in Hartford, Jose learned how to use a calm voice to talk to his kids, instead of yelling. He learned to praise and encourage his children more to continue their good behaviors. Now, each day, Jose and his family ride bikes together to open the lines of communication. As for the little ones, Jose separates them when they’re fighting, and has them talk it out to prevent future arguments.
“With the advice and support that Triple P provided to my family, we are now able to communicate and respect each other better,” said Jose.
The classes were facilitated by Barbara Vita, while Anne McAuliffe works one-on-one with the families as a parent educator. Both women work at The Village’s Family Resource Center at SAND. Through the Office of Early Childhood, The Village is a certified Triple P provider, and Jose’s group was the first to complete the program.
“Being a parent is not easy,” said Barbara Vita. “Triple P doesn’t tell you how to be a good parent, but it gives you tools to help you handle challenging issues with your children and to build positive, healthy relationships.” Tripe P also helps parents learn how to reduce the stress of parenting, balance work and family, and set realistic expectations.
“Being a parent truly is one of the greatest joys in life, but it can come with challenges,” said Office of Early Childhood Commissioner, Dr. Myra Jones-Taylor. “The right tools can help make parenting easier and a better experience.” The goal of Triple P CT is to strengthen parents’ communication with their children and make them feel more confident in their parenting.
Samantha Pacheco also took advantage of Triple P through The Village. With two children and another one on the way, Samantha wanted to learn skills to better communicate and discipline her children, and to find a group of people who could support her emotionally. “Triple P provided me with a great support group that gave me a lot of advice, and people that will always have my back,” Samantha said. The Village is one of over 140 practitioners throughout Hartford and Northeastern CT that have been certified with the Triple P approach. Most Triple P services are free.