Research has shown that preschool programs can positively impact parenting when they go beyond simply providing parenting information. Parents and children receive even greater benefits when programs offer parents experiences that model positive interactions and provide opportunities to practice with feedback.¹ A parenting curriculum can provide information and opportunities to practice skills that parents in your program may welcome.

A parenting curriculum addresses parenting outcomes such as nurturing, discipline, teaching, language, and supervision.² Implementing it is an ongoing process, not a single event. It can take as long as four years to complete the four stages and reach full implementation.³ The four stages are:  

1. Exploration
2. Installation
3. Initial Implementation
4. Full Implementation

The four stages of implementation.

These stages are linear but may overlap. It is possible to be in more than one stage at a time. At any point, you might need to return to the lessons learned from a previous stage to improve your program’s process for implementing your chosen curriculum. The stages serve as guides to ensuring full and successful implementation over time.⁴ 

Learn about the steps and best practices for selecting and implementing a parenting intervention with this easy-to-use tool for programs, states, and child care network leaders.

Adapted from Implementing Parenting Interventions in Early Care and Education Settings: A Guidebook for Implementation.

Last Updated: December 13, 2023