Journey FAQs

What is the Parent Child Journey program?

Parent Child Journey is an integrated 10-lesson parent behavior management training program, created by Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician Dan Shapiro, MD. Parent Child Journey is for parents who are looking for a comprehensive approach to problem situations and behaviors. By the end of the program, parents learn to evaluate the source of their child’s difficulties and how to individualize effective management strategies.

How is the program offered?

Parent Child Journey is offered as an online course with two components:

• Parent Child Journey At Your Own Pace, which covers the content of the course through over 8 hours of short, engaging video mini-lessons.
• Interactive Zoom Discussion Groups, a supplemental 10-week experience to discuss strategies for implementing Parent Child Journey techniques with an instructor and other parents.

What topics are covered in the Parent Child Journey program?

There are 10 miles in the Parent Child Journey:

• Know Your Child. What is it about your child – and your family situation – that causes problem behaviors and problem situations? Learn how accurate description leads to individualized management.
• Time–in. Individualize your approach to spending positive time with your child – and taking care of yourself too.
• Engagement and Understanding. Individualize your approach to securing your child’s attention and ensuring that they understand your expectations.
• Motivation through Positive Attention. Individualize your approach to reinforcing good behavior. Learn how to motivate your child to play and work more independently.
• Motivation through Experience. Take a step back. By selective use of natural consequences and first-then techniques, give your child the opportunity to learn from their own experience.
• Motivation through Rewards. Dos and don’ts for your child.
• Problem Solving. Moving beyond behavior management, how children – and parents – can learn to frame problems in specific and solvable terms, then collaborate to solve problems. A developmental approach.
• Time-out and Ignoring. What to do when proactive strategies fail. An individualized approach to getting through difficult moments.
• Pausing for empathy and Self-Reflection. The importance of responding to our children – and ourselves – with calm understanding. Teaching our children the language of emotion, validation, and love.
• Accommodations/Interventions. The road ahead. Understanding remaining hurdles and setting priorities. A scientific approach to setting long-term developmental care.

About the Program

What is Parent Child Journey based on?

Parent Child Journey combines the wisdoms of many evidence-based programs. Starting in 1985, Dr. Shapiro ran parent groups in his general pediatrics practice based on the parent training programs of Forehand/ McMahon and Barkley. Over the years, he has modified the program to include the ideas in Ross Greene’s The Explosive Child, Martin Seligman’s Learned Optimism, William Carey’s work on temperament, B.F. Skinner’s behaviorism, Mel Levine’s A Mind at a Time – and more. While the material presented in this course is based on the work of these innovative researchers, Dr. Shapiro’s Parent Child Journey Program integrates the best of these time-tested approaches to give parents an approach that’s understandable, practical and effective.

Is the Parent Child Journey program effective?

At the beginning and end of every course, parents complete behavior rating scales. Over the years, about 75% of class participants have reported substantial improvement in their children’s problem behaviors and problem situations. An even higher percentage of parents report that they feel better about their relationship with their children and their ability to handle challenging situations. These results have held true across socioeconomic groups and did not depend upon whether the course was offered in person or online.

How is Parent Child Journey different from other parenting courses?

Parent Child Journey is an individualized approach. One size does not fit all. This is what separates Parent Child Journey from other parenting programs. First, parents are taught how to answer one fundamental question: What is it about your child that causes problem situations and behaviors? Second, parents are introduced to a tool kit, including a large set of time-tested proactive strategies for problem situations and reactive strategies for problem behaviors. Then, well-equipped, parents are guided on how to choose and use the right tool for their child and their family situation.

Different Parents, Different Options

What is included in the Flipped Classroom Package?

The Flipped Classroom Package is a simple way to register for the At Your Own Pace Online Course and an Interactive Zoom Discussion Group at the same time. We recommend this approach for parents who are new to Parent Child Journey, want to get the most out of the program and are able to commit a few hours per week toward learning and implementing the parenting strategies.

For a slower pace, you can purchase the At Your Own Pace course first, then add on an Interactive Zoom Discussion Group at a later date. We plan to offer Discussion Groups at several start dates throughout the year, primarily in the evenings Eastern Time.

What does the At Your Own Pace course include?

Parent Child Journey At Your Own Pace is a video-based course consisting of over 8 hours of mini-lessons (3-5 minutes on average) spread over 10 “Miles” of content.

Each Mile introduces new parenting concepts and skills to practice. Each Mile builds on the Mile before it. The At Your Own Pace course also includes the full text of the Parent Child Journey book which can be read through the course website.

You may also choose to enroll in a 10-week instructor-led Interactive Zoom Discussion Group to get the most out of the Parent Child Journey program.

How do the Interactive Zoom Discussion Groups work?

The Interactive Zoom Discussion Groups are instructor-led. Parents meet weekly over a period of 10 weeks using Zoom video conferencing. Each of the 10 meetings follows a Mile of Parent Child Journey content. The instructor will answer questions and facilitate parent discussions around implementing Parent Child Journey strategies.

To register for an Interactive Zoom Discussion Group, you will have to be currently or formerly enrolled in the online At Your Own Pace course, a past Parent Child Journey In-Person Course, or be able to follow along with your copy of the Parent Child Journey Book. Parent Child Journey content is not available through the Interactive Zoom Discussion Group alone.

For most parents who are new to Parent Child Journey and who are completing the At Your Own Pace Course at the same time, prior to meeting each week, you will view approximately 45-60 minutes of short videos from each Mile of the At Your Own Pace Course. The video player allows you to pause, speed up or slow the video pace, and re-watch course videos as many times as you like.

Why are the Interactive Zoom Discussion Groups divided by age focus?

While the parent strategies discussed in the Parent Child Journey Program are applicable to all ages from preschool through high school age, we have found that discussions work best among parents of children in similar age groups.

Can I register for an Interactive Zoom Discussion Group with a different age focus from my children?

For the most benefit, we recommend registering for a Discussion Group focused on the age of your child. However, if the time is more convenient, you are welcome to register for an alternative Discussion Group.

Do you recommend completing all ten miles of the self-paced material before joining a Zoom Discussion Group  meetings? Or should we do the two concurrently, that is, at the same time, side-by-side?

Most parents will want to do the At Your Own Pace Course along with the Interactive Zoom Discussion Group. This means getting through the course material and starting to implement the homework strategies during the week before each group meeting. Although this is not completely at your own pace, you can still watch the video modules at your convenience. Advantage: You get the benefit of the discussion group while the material is fresh. This can help with troubleshooting and motivation. However, some parents will want to complete the At Your Own Pace Course first, then join an Interactive Zoom Discussion Group the next “semester.” Advantage: You can truly go at your pace; for example, take a few weeks with each “mile” instead of one week. It’s entirely up to you.

How long do I have access to the At Your Own Pace course and Interactive Zoom Discussion Groups?

Currently, you will have access to Parent Child Journey At Your Own Pace for one year after the date of registration. Access to Interactive Zoom Discussion Groups is for one ten-session course. Many parents may be interested in staying in touch after their Discussion Group concludes by joining one of the Free Parent Support Groups.

When will the next Interactive Zoom Discussion Groups be offered?

We plan to offer Discussion Groups on a quarterly basis with start dates in October, January, April, and June. These dates will be posted on this page and announced via our Newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter at the bottom of this page.

I can’t make any of the Interactive Zoom Discussion Group times. Will they be offered at other times?

Currently, most of the parents taking the program reside in the Eastern part of the U.S. and we have designed our Interactive Zoom Discussion Group times to meet their schedules. Please send us an email at support@parentchildjourney.com with your feedback on when we should offer other Discussion Groups.

Can I register for an Interactive Zoom Discussion Group that is currently in progress?

Registration for Interactive Zoom Discussion Groups is only available for groups that have not yet started. We plan to have group start dates in January, April, June, and October of each year. Sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page to stay informed.

What if I can’t make one of the Interactive Zoom Discussion Groups meetings I registered for?

Different Discussion Groups meet at different times each week. Each group will discuss the same course content each week. You are welcome to jump over and join another Discussion Group. Although the age group may be different, you will cover the same “mile” and still learn a lot. The Zoom links for all of the Discussion Groups are accessible from inside the Interactive Zoom Discussion Group course, located on your Course Dashboard. If you need to make a permanent switch to another Discussion Group, send us an email at support@parentchildjourney.com and we will do our best to accommodate you.

What if one parent can’t participate for all the sessions even for the whole course?

For two parent households, it’s always best if both parents participate. Whether you are co-parenting or a single parent, you can also include others who are regularly involved in your child’s care; grandparents, nannies, daycare providers, etc. If the key players cannot participate in the live discussion groups, at least they could access the online course or book. The main thing is implementation of strategies at home. You can set aside a time each week to share strategies and discuss homework with your co-parent or other childcare providers. In this way, others who are not participating in the discussion groups can still collaborate and implement the program together.

What if one parent is not interested, does not think there is a problem, has a very different approach, or has been difficult to work with in the past?

It is not unusual for parents or other adults to be out of sync. Sometimes there is significant marital tension. Sometimes parents are divorced or separated. Sometimes there is blame, shame, anxiety or anger. This kind of conflict is all the more reason to work through Parent Child Journey. In this program, we move past sweeping generalizations about your child, yourself, and your co-parent. The approach here is practical. What is it about your child and the situation that explains problem behaviors? Taking one problem situation at a time, what practical strategies will be most effective? By focusing on specific solutions, parents often find they are not so far apart as they thought. At the end of the course, it’s not unusual for conflicting parents to find that they are better able to work with each other.

Are scholarships available?

We offer full scholarships to families with financial need to access the Parent Child Journey At Your Own Pace course. Please email us at support@parentchildjourney.com.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer scholarships for the Interactive Zoom Discussion Groups at this time.

Will you offer in-person courses again when it becomes safe to do so?

We plan to continue offering the in-person Parent Child Journey Program in the Washington, D.C. metro area when possible. Please sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page to to stay up to date.