The Incredible Years – Child Training Program
Problems addressed
Externalizing behaviors/problems
Low social–emotional competences
Effectiveness

Effective

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Effective

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Life periods served
Children (4 to 13 years)
Early childhood (0 to 3 years)
Where the program was applied
Education establishment
Country of application
United States
Description

This is an intervention program used by counselors and therapists to treat children with behavioral problems, attention deficits, and emotional or internalizing problems.
The program aims to develop social skills and emotional literacy through weekly two-hour sessions (18-20 weeks) with a small group of children and two facilitators. Teachers and parents receive weekly letters explaining the behaviors and concepts being taught to the children, and suggested strategies to reinforce the skills learned.
The children receive instructions for activities to be done with their parents at home and a weekly good behavior chart, filled in by the parents and teachers.

Impact evaluations

Impact evaluation studies have shown that the program led to a significant improvement in children’s behavioral problems reported by parents, a reduction in observed disruptive behaviors, and a significant increase in prosocial behaviors [1] [2] [3].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Webster-Stratton, C., Reid, M. J. & Hammond, M. (1997). Treating Children With Early-Onset Conduct Problems: A Comparison of Child and Parent Training Interventions.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 65(1): 93–109. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006x.65.1.93

[2] Webster-Stratton, C., Reid, M. J., & Hammond, M. (2004). Treating children with early-onset conduct problems: Intervention outcomes for parent, child, and teacher training. Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology, 33(1), 105-124. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15374424JCCP3301_11

[3] Webster-Stratton, C. H., Reid, M. J. & Beauchaine, T. (2011). Combining parent and child training for young children with ADHD. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology : The Official Journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53, 40(2), 191–203. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2011.546044

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