Stepping Stones Triple P seminars for parents of a child with a disability: a randomized controlled trial.
Two brief evenings of Stepping Stones Triple P seminars cut child behavior problems and poor parenting tactics for families of kids with developmental delays.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Sofronoff et al. (2011) ran a randomized trial with parents of kids who have developmental delays.
Half the parents attended two 2-hour Stepping Stones Triple P seminars. The rest waited.
Researchers tracked child behavior and parenting style for three months.
What they found
Kids whose parents got the seminars showed fewer behavior problems.
Parents also used less harsh or confused parenting. Gains held three months later.
How this fits with other research
Ip et al. (2024) moved the same brief parent-training idea online and aimed at sleep. Both studies cut child problems and parent stress.
Sánchez-Luquez et al. (2025) stretched parent work into a six-month VB-MAPP home program. They saw bigger skill jumps, but Kate’s short seminars still give a fast first step.
Harrop (2015) notes most early parent programs skip repetitive behaviors. Kate’s seminars fit that gap—they target broad behavior, not stereotypy.
Why it matters
You can run two short group nights and see real payoff for families. Use Kate’s model as a low-cost first layer while you plan longer care. If telehealth suits better, borrow Ting’s sleep twist. Either way, parents leave with tools that work.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Parents of children with a developmental disability require tailored parenting support, as their families have special needs and are at risk of increased burden. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Stepping Stones Triple P seminars, a brief group intervention for parents of a child with a disability. There were two seminars that presented parenting strategies to improve both child behavior and parenting variables implicated in the development and maintenance of child problem behavior. Fifty-three parents participated in this randomized controlled trial. Each had a child, aged two to ten, with a disability. The results indicated significant reductions in child behavior problems, the use of dysfunctional parenting styles, and parental conflict reported by parents in the intervention group compared to a waitlist group. The results were maintained at 3-month follow-up and there was evidence of a sleeper effect for parenting confidence. This study demonstrated that the seminars provide a promising intervention for parents of children with a disability. Limitations and implications for future research are also discussed.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2011 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.07.046