Abstract

Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.)- Forging Strong Families - the Best Prevention

Author(s)

Larissa Dann -Parentline ACT

Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.) is the parenting course that arguably began parenting courses.  Devised 46 years ago by Dr Thomas Gordon, it takes a Rogerian, relationship-based, democratic approach to parenting.   The course teaches parents the relationship skills of mutually respectful communication, without resorting to rewards and punishment.  The focus of P.E.T. is to form healthy, positive parent and child relationships.  P.E.T. helps children and parents become socially and emotionally intelligent, and helps develop resilience.

This poster will briefly describe the theory and skills behind the P.E.T. course, including its unique model of 'problem ownership'.  The author regularly attends community network and parenting meetings, where, although most practitioners have heard of P.E.T., few know of the actual skills and theory behind the course.

The ARACY Report card on the well being of young Australians, indicated that just 51% of 15 year olds felt their parents spent their time 'just talking' more than once a week.  The ARACY technical report stated "parent-child relationships are the most important mediating factors of child wellbeing".  Research by the University of New Hampshire found that the lowest prevalence of alcohol and drug use was for teenagers where both parents had a democratic parenting style.

The author strongly believes the P.E.T. approach to parenting directly and practically improves family relationships.  Participants learn to communicate with children democratically, rather than using their power over children.  Parent Effectiveness Training makes prevention work!

Reference:
Chickering, Fran, 2002. Parenting Style: Does it Matter?  Teen Assessment Project, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension.