While parent education programs are designed to help parents improve their skills and approaches, different needs require different strategies in these programs. Any good parent education organization includes a variety of training strategies and delivery methods to improve the effectiveness of the programs.

Strategies used in parent education programs
Some programs may be home-based while others may be community-based or conducted in classrooms. The focus may vary depending on the age group of the child, from infancy to 3 years old, from 4 to 12, from 13 to 17 and so on. Classes may focus on individuals or groups.

Different approaches
Parent training programs need to be delivered by well-trained staff experienced in family counseling and in finding various available resources to help families in need, like finding financial aid, locating resources for vocational training for gainful employment and so on.

Individual and group
Programs for parents and families that have a history or the potential for child abuse and child neglect might benefit from an individual training approach. Group training can help parents exchange ideas, feel free in the company of peers and discuss problem areas and the effectiveness of their child-rearing methods. A combined method that includes both individual training and group discussion has been found to be effective in reducing incidences of child abuse, use of corporal punishment, etc.

Using family strengths and family-centered approach
These approaches identify family strengths and use these to promote a positive and safe environment for the child.

Holistic approach
A holistic approach that takes into account different elements like the parents, extended family, the community, school, employment, finance and so on helps deliver effective solutions to families facing many challenges like unsafe environments, unemployment, etc.

Parent partnership
Group sessions that make use of parent leaders with good skills in communication can help educate other parents. These parent leaders take the initiative in such programs, interacting with the participants and discussing relationships, behaviors, and emphasizing the need for protection and security for a child’s development.

Involving fathers
Encouraging the fathers to participate in taking care of their children and providing relationship and communication training for the fathers has been found to have positive effects on the results of parent education programs. It encourages the father’s cooperation in child rearing and helps ensure safe environments for the children and the family as a whole.

Besides these, training parents in the use of emotional communication skills, self-reflection, and encouraging peer support is also effective in building parenting skills. All these help a parent be good caregivers and to be an effective guide and participant in their children’s emotional, academic, physical and intellectual growth.