Researching the Incredible Years Infant & Toddler Programmes Nia Griffith Bangor University Nia Griffith Bangor University

The new programme The new Infant and Toddler Programme developed by Carolyn Webster-Stratton to promote Early Development The programme is set in two parts 0-1 years 1-3 years The new Infant and Toddler Programme developed by Carolyn Webster-Stratton to promote Early Development The programme is set in two parts 0-1 years 1-3 years

Flying Start Flying start initiative aims to fund high quality services for children aged 0-3 years in disadvantaged areas in Wales Extra health visits Free childcare Basic skills Parenting courses The Infant and Toddler programme was developed by Carolyn Webster-Stratton in response for the demand for a parenting programme to fulfill the needs of the Flying start programme Flying start initiative aims to fund high quality services for children aged 0-3 years in disadvantaged areas in Wales Extra health visits Free childcare Basic skills Parenting courses The Infant and Toddler programme was developed by Carolyn Webster-Stratton in response for the demand for a parenting programme to fulfill the needs of the Flying start programme

Infant0-1 years Programme contains six topics, 6-8 sessions in length 1.Getting to know your Baby (0-3 months) 2.Babies as Intelligent Learners (3-6 months) 3.Providing Physical, Tactile and Visual Stimulation 4.Parents Learning to Read Babies Minds 5.Gaining Support 6.Babies Emerging Sense of Self (6-12 months) Programme contains six topics, 6-8 sessions in length 1.Getting to know your Baby (0-3 months) 2.Babies as Intelligent Learners (3-6 months) 3.Providing Physical, Tactile and Visual Stimulation 4.Parents Learning to Read Babies Minds 5.Gaining Support 6.Babies Emerging Sense of Self (6-12 months)

Toddler1-3 years Programme contains eight topics, and is 12 sessions in length 1.Child-Directed Play Promotes Positive Relationships 2.Promoting Toddler’s Language with Child-Directed Coaching 3.Social and Emotional Coaching 4.The Art of Praise and Encouragement 5.Spontaneous Incentives for Toddlers 6.Handling Separations and Reunions 7.Positive Discipline- Effective Limit Setting 8.Positive Discipline- Handling Misbehaviour Programme contains eight topics, and is 12 sessions in length 1.Child-Directed Play Promotes Positive Relationships 2.Promoting Toddler’s Language with Child-Directed Coaching 3.Social and Emotional Coaching 4.The Art of Praise and Encouragement 5.Spontaneous Incentives for Toddlers 6.Handling Separations and Reunions 7.Positive Discipline- Effective Limit Setting 8.Positive Discipline- Handling Misbehaviour

Randomised Controlled Trial An outcome study where participants are randomly assigned to intervention or waiting list control conditions 18 Participants will be recruited in each service area, and will be randomly allocated to intervention or control groups, 2:1 ratio This type of study is recognized as ‘the best and most definitive way of demonstrating that an intervention is effective’ (Kazdin, 2003) Services aware they must deliver the programme to control participants following completion of data collection An outcome study where participants are randomly assigned to intervention or waiting list control conditions 18 Participants will be recruited in each service area, and will be randomly allocated to intervention or control groups, 2:1 ratio This type of study is recognized as ‘the best and most definitive way of demonstrating that an intervention is effective’ (Kazdin, 2003) Services aware they must deliver the programme to control participants following completion of data collection

Proposed Timetable Jan-Mar 08Develop detailed observation scale to observe the interaction between mother and child. Apr-Jun 08Field test the observational scale Recruit the first three service Jul-Aug 08Collect baseline measures for services 1, 2 and 3 Recruit services 4,5 and 6 Sep-Oct 08Delivery of IY Infant programme in three of the services Collect baseline measures for services 4, 5 and 6 Nov-Dec 086-month follow-up for services 1,2 and 3 Delivery of IY Infant programme in services 4,5 and 6 Jan-Mar 08Develop detailed observation scale to observe the interaction between mother and child. Apr-Jun 08Field test the observational scale Recruit the first three service Jul-Aug 08Collect baseline measures for services 1, 2 and 3 Recruit services 4,5 and 6 Sep-Oct 08Delivery of IY Infant programme in three of the services Collect baseline measures for services 4, 5 and 6 Nov-Dec 086-month follow-up for services 1,2 and 3 Delivery of IY Infant programme in services 4,5 and 6

Proposed Timetable Jan-Feb 096-month follow-up for services 4, 5 and 6 Jan-Mar 09Delivery of IY Toddler programme to services 1, 2 and 3 Apr-May 09Second follow up for services 1, 2 and 3 Jun-Jul 09Second follow up for services 4, 5 and 6 Delivery of IY Infant programme to control families Sep-Oct 09Delivery of IY Toddler programme to control families Aug-Dec 0912-month follow up for all intervention families Throughout the RCT high levels of supervision will be delivered. Jan-Feb 096-month follow-up for services 4, 5 and 6 Jan-Mar 09Delivery of IY Toddler programme to services 1, 2 and 3 Apr-May 09Second follow up for services 1, 2 and 3 Jun-Jul 09Second follow up for services 4, 5 and 6 Delivery of IY Infant programme to control families Sep-Oct 09Delivery of IY Toddler programme to control families Aug-Dec 0912-month follow up for all intervention families Throughout the RCT high levels of supervision will be delivered.

Participating Services What we need Six flying start services Experienced trained leaders High levels of supervision Continued involvement of service managers What are the long-term benefits for service providers Lessons in programme fidelity Receive post-project outcome data Builds on the number of certified leaders available to ensure effective programme delivery in the future What we need Six flying start services Experienced trained leaders High levels of supervision Continued involvement of service managers What are the long-term benefits for service providers Lessons in programme fidelity Receive post-project outcome data Builds on the number of certified leaders available to ensure effective programme delivery in the future

Other Services While we have funding from WAG to evaluate the programme across 6 flying start areas, this does not mean we only need 6 participating services. Incredible Years Wales is interested in supplying other services who will be rolling out the Infant and Toddler Programme with before and after parent report measures, to enable additional data analysis to take place in other services. Services to receive feedback Services to receive supervision While we have funding from WAG to evaluate the programme across 6 flying start areas, this does not mean we only need 6 participating services. Incredible Years Wales is interested in supplying other services who will be rolling out the Infant and Toddler Programme with before and after parent report measures, to enable additional data analysis to take place in other services. Services to receive feedback Services to receive supervision

Funding Limited Research FundedMaterials, staff for recruitment, data collection & Supervision Service FundedStaffing costs, Crèche availability, travel to supervision Limited Research FundedMaterials, staff for recruitment, data collection & Supervision Service FundedStaffing costs, Crèche availability, travel to supervision

A Battery of Measures What do we measure? What is practical in the time we have? What do we measure? What is practical in the time we have?

What do we measure? Developmental Measure of attainment of developmental milestones in areas of Loco-motor Personal-Social Hearing & Language Eye & Hand co-ordination Performance Measure of the home environment Measure of maternal depression Measure of maternal sensitivity / responsivity Measure of parenting Demographic and family risk factors Direct home observation The battery must be easily administered in a short time period, as the children are so young, and will only be awake for a limited time. Developmental Measure of attainment of developmental milestones in areas of Loco-motor Personal-Social Hearing & Language Eye & Hand co-ordination Performance Measure of the home environment Measure of maternal depression Measure of maternal sensitivity / responsivity Measure of parenting Demographic and family risk factors Direct home observation The battery must be easily administered in a short time period, as the children are so young, and will only be awake for a limited time.

In Conclusion Recruitment Design A battery of measures Recruitment Design A battery of measures