Family-Based Practices to Promote Well-Being.

McIntyre (2020) looked at every paper he could find on two kinds of parent training. One kind teaches moms and dads ABA skills. The other adds short mindfulness lessons like breathing and body scans.

He focused on families who have a child with intellectual disability or developmental delay. The goal was to see if these programs help parents feel better and lower child problem behavior.

The review says both styles work. Parents report less stress and more confidence. Kids show fewer tantrums, hits, and self-injury.

Lee notes the studies are small and old-tech. He urges teams to move the lessons onto phones and tablets so more families can reach them.

Older trials already proved parents can learn. Llewellyn et al. (2003) taught safety skills in ten home visits. Feldman et al. (2025) used baby dolls so expectant moms with ID could practice newborn care. Both kept kids out of foster care.

Harrop et al. (2017) tried a play method called JASPER. Caregiver coaching did not lower toddler repetitive acts, but it did make parent replies faster and calmer. That lines up with Lee’s point: train the adult first, child behavior follows.

Two drug reviews tell the other side. Matson et al. (2009) and Cudré-Mauroux (2010) found pills barely touch challenging behavior. Lee’s push for behavioral and mindfulness parent training fits here—skills first, meds last.

You now have a menu: pure ABA lessons, or ABA plus five-minute mindfulness. Either choice cuts stress for the parent and drops problem behavior for the child. Start with one skill per visit, add a breathing cue when tension rises, and track both parent calm counts and child responses. If the family lacks transport, record the steps on their phone so they can replay at home.