“Obviously, things work best when parents and (community members) are helping kids to become good (and healthy) people—and, better yet, when they’re actively supporting one another’s efforts” Alfie Kohn Applying the Principles of The Pyramid Model to Family Support Programming

Maria Montessori “Family Resource Centers offer parents an easy and comfortable way to learn new skills, interact with other parents, discover community resources and find new pleasure in family life” NH Family Resource Centers’ Brochure

Thank you for being here! Before we begin, I have a request. Please only take notes during the video clips. Observe them carefully and jot down anything that strikes you. You may find these short notes of use during reflection and discussion. If you’d like to see a video again, please don’t hesitate to ask. Thank you for being here!

What is the Pyramid Model? It is an evidence-based way to change a trajectory of a struggling child’s life. Children with delays in social and emotional development are at higher risk for abuse and neglect, they struggle in preschool/Child care settings and in school. These children are also at a higher risk for learning /behavioral problems and juvenile delinquency. The Pyramid Model is a framework for preventing challenging behaviors and promoting healthy social and emotional development by supporting positive relationships, creating engaging environments, providing concrete teaching strategies, and if/when needed, creating individualized interventions for children: The following is an overview of how the Pyramid Model was developed, who was involved and why.  

Pyramid Model Overview web-based

How can family resource centers use an understanding of the Pyramid Model as a way to enhance the quality of family support?

By understanding the Pyramid Model’s goal of supporting positive relationships!

parenting and child development education building parental resilience “Help me help myself” Parents come to family resource centers for education, support and empowerment so that they can raise healthy children . Overall, The Pyramid Model framework fits nicely with all the core services and goals of our family resource centers. Fundamentally, Parent Resource Centers can be effective at the blue level of the Pyramid Model by being high quality supportive environments that provide and support nurturing and responsive relationships. Two core services in particular can help parents help themselves. They are: parenting and child development education and building parental resilience

Helping others help themselves Video #8 –Supporting Attachment

What is Social Emotional Competence? A child’s ability to interact positively with others, self-regulate their behavior and effectively communicate their feelings has a positive impact on their relationships with their family, other adults, and peers. So, very simply, if we help children develop these abilities, they will have the skills to build positive relationships. The Pyramid Model is all about practical strategies for teaching children these relationship skills.

Challenging behaviors or delayed development creates extra stress for families, so early identification and assistance for both parents and children can head off negative results and keep development on track.

Supporting social emotional competence Video #1

What are relationship-building skills? The term social emotional development refers to the developing capacity of the child from birth through five years of age to form close and secure adult and peer relationships experience, regulate, and express emotions in socially and culturally appropriate ways explore the environment and learn all in the context of family, community, and culture. Parents and caregivers promote healthy development by working to support social emotional wellness in all young children, and make every effort to prevent the occurrence or escalation of social emotional problems in children at-risk, identifying and working to remediate problems that surface, and, when necessary, referring families and children to support services. (Adapted with permission from ZERO to THREEʼs definition of infant mental health, 2001.)

Supporting Self-Regulation Video #2

Parents are First Teachers With access to the Pyramid Model principles and CSEFEL Strategies, Family Resource Centers can provide a wealth of techniques and information to parents that will: Help children manage their emotions – by letting them know it’s okay to be upset or angry. Help children to grow socially – model getting along with others. Help children handle conflicts by problem solving, allowing them to vent frustrations appropriately while maintaining self-esteem.

Learning from Families Video #6

Caregiver’s Thoughts I Video #4

Simple exercise on examining our emotional reactions to behaviors On your note pad, make three lists. 1. Write down 5 behaviors that push your buttons. 2. Write down your feelings when faced with these behaviors. 3. Write down the impact your feelings have on your relationship with the children who exhibit these behaviors.

Caregiver’s Thoughts II Video #5

Two important practices for parents, caregivers and family support staff alike, are active observation and active self awarness. All behaviors are a person’s way to try to communicate a need. This is true for children in families as well as for parents in family resource centers. Learning to look past a behavior, trying to understand what someone else needs (or doesn’t need), and understanding you own emotional reaction to what is happening during the interaction, creates the best dynamic for building a positive relationship.

Observation Exercise I Video #7

Observation Excercise II Video of Independent Child in a Supportive Environment

In summary, this is all about prevention What does this have to do with preventing child abuse, neglect and other risk factors for children in families? The answer is simple: when parents are helped to see each interaction as an opportunity to build a positive relationship, they are more likely to view raising their children positively, they are more likely to see behaviors as communication and they are more empowered to advocate for their children in settings outside of the home. ~ The 4 year old who is “tattling” on her brother is saying, “Mommy, we need your help.” ~ The 3 year old who is climbing up the slide is saying, “Daddy, help me learn to use this.” ~The 4 year old who throws his older sister’s soccer ball over the fence is saying, “I’m frustrated.” ~The child running around the room is saying, “Help me find someone to play with.” This makes parents less likely to become frustrated or overwhelmed and more likely to make good decisions about responding to challenging behaviors. These decisions help strengthen parents relationships with their children. This is the foundation that supports children continuing to build positive relationships and develop socially and emotionally through life.

Relationships and Community Video #9