EPIC collects, reviews and shares practices relating to children and families from across the EU. We assess each practice for their existing evidence base and categorise them on one out of three different levels: Best, Promising and Emerging. Detailed descriptions of the meaning of each can be found here.
During these out-of-the-ordinary times, we feature some practices listed on the EPIC practice repository which may be relevant to the challenges that families face carrying on during the COVID-19 pandemic. The selections below include resource materials for parents and teachers alike that can be found online, with links provided.
Romania – Parenting for Lifelong Health
The Parenting for Lifelong Health for Young Children (PLH Kids and PLH 2-9) initiative is a suite of parenting interventions targeted at parents of children between two and nine years old that are designed to improve parents’ and caregivers’ knowledge, competence, stress levels, mental health and parenting skills and therefore . protect children’s lifelong health and wellbeing. In evaluations out of Europe, PLH 2-9 has been found to lead to positive behavioural change in parents, such as reducing stress levels and use of harsh, inconsistent, or violent parenting. All intervention materials are freely available online, including family guidebooks and facilitator manuals for the ‘children’ and ‘teenager’ versions of PLH and the PLH 2-9 programme that has been adapted specifically for Romania, North Macedonia and Moldova. As the COVID-19 pandemic means families are under stress and spending more time together, these resources may be helpful.
From France – The Parents’ Briefcase
La Mallette de Parents (the Parents’ Briefcase) is an ongoing project that aims to involve parents more in their children’s education in 80 schools in France. The programme aims to improve relations between parents and teachers and to help parents understand more about how their child is taught so that they can contribute to their child's success at school. In a randomised controlled trial, parents who volunteered to attend the programme were shown to have changed their behaviour significantly in response to the programme. Programme materials are available on the French national education website. This practice may be helpful for parents who are now supporting children in their education from home.
From across Europe - Theraplay
Theraplay is an interactive, directive, short-term, developmental play therapy that emphasises parental involvement through structured, attachment-based play, guided challenge, social engagement, playful regulation of affect, and high levels of nurture. The programme aims to treat various childhood challenges such as social anxiety and language disorder and has been implemented across 15 European countries. In an evaluation carried out in Germany, children who received Theraplay treatment were shown to improve significantly in several measures (including shyness/timidity, attention deficit, cooperation, over-adapting/conformity, and social withdrawal) and these improvements were maintained over time. The Theraplay protocol and standard activities can be found for purchase for £5 upwards on the Theraplay Institute website and Theraplay UK website. This practice may be interesting information for those concerned about children’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
From Spain – Positive Parents
Educar en Positivo is an online parenting programme that provides training materials to help improve parents’ skills and their relationships with their children. It also offers a space where users can share experiences with other parents and receive emotional support. The programme aims to help parents gain knowledge about child development, alternative parenting methods, how to have greater autonomy, awareness and creativity as parents. An evaluation showed mixed results from the programme: parents with higher level of experience with the Internet benefitted more from the programme whereas those with lower levels seemed prevented from experiencing an impact from the programme. Modules of Educar en Positivo are available freely online in Spanish. As the COVID-19 pandemic means families are under stress and spending more time together, these resources may be helpful.
For more information on each of these, or to search for more examples amongst our more than 100 practices available, please visit the EPIC platform. If you would like to learn more about how we assess practices, please see here for a detailed explanation of our process and criteria.
The EPIC team is here to support you through Covid-19 with resources and information as parents, carers and education providers from around the world tackle this together. #washyourhands, #stayathome, and take care!
