ABSTRACT
Techniques that can be taught to parents of pre-school children include play, praise, tangible rewards, commands, ignoring, distraction, holding and consequences. 1–3 When teaching these techniques to parents, it is important to establish a collaborative relationship. 4 Parents are experts on their own children, and on what techniques will and will not work with them. It is important to respect this. Parents may often be reminded of their own childhood by discussion of parenting issues. They may well cast you in the role of a parent, and possibly see you as like one or both of their own parents. A useful guideline is to try to treat the parents you are helping in the same way that you hope they will treat their children – that is, positively and with respect. (See Figure 6.1 on p. 72.)
