Everyday Parenting: The ABCs of Child Rearing

Yale University

About this Course

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Everyday Parenting gives you access to a toolkit of behavior-change techniques that will make your typical day in the home easier as you develop the behaviors you would like to see in your child. The lessons provide step-by-step instructions and demonstrations to improve your course of action with both children and adolescents.  Among many techniques, you will learn how even simple modifications to tone of voice and phrasing can lead to more compliance.  The course will also shed light on many parenting misconceptions and ineffective strategies that are routinely used.
The key to the course is practice. It is not enough to know the strategies; you have to do them to reap the rewards. Using the techniques on a temporary basis will lead to permanent change. 

Chances are your parenting is perfectly fine and working the way you would like.  But if you have any frustrations with your child or would like improve your effectiveness in changing your child’s behavior, these videos will be a very useful guide.

Subtitles available in Chinese and Spanish.

Learner Career Outcomes

38%

started a new career after completing these courses

23%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

12%

got a pay increase or promotion

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Chinese (Simplified), Greek, Russian, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.91/5 (414 Ratings)

Alan E. Kazdin, PhD, ABPP

Sterling Professor of Psychology and Child Psychiatry

Department of Psychology

117,783 Learners

1 Course

Learner Career Outcomes

38%

started a new career after completing these courses

23%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

12%

got a pay increase or promotion

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Chinese (Simplified), Greek, Russian, English, Spanish

Offered by

Yale University

For more than 300 years, Yale University has inspired the minds that inspire the world. Based in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale brings people and ideas together for positive impact around the globe. A research university that focuses on students and encourages learning as an essential way of life, Yale is a place for connection, creativity, and innovation among cultures and across disciplines.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(14,182 ratings)

Week

Week 1

5 hours to complete

The ABCs : Part 1 - Antecedents & Behaviors

Module 1 overviews the course structure and outlines the ABC formula for behavior-change programs. The “A” in the ABC stands for Antecedents and covers what to do before the behavior. The “B” represents Behavior and outlines working on the behavior itself - how to shape behavior by breaking it down into doable steps, practice the behavior repeatedly through simulations, and model the behavior. The course kicks off with a “C” (Consequence) because learning how to praise your child in the special way may be the most useful and versatile technique in the series.

5 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 91 min), 9 readings, 5 quizzes

9 videos

Learn how to change your child's behavior5m

Praise Explanation59s

Praise8m

Antecedents18m

Antecedents Practice Exercise4m

Shaping13m

Simulation12m

Modeling16m

Caleb, Age 3 - saying "no" all the time10m

9 readings

Parenting during COVID-1910m

Learn Out of This World Parenting2m

Identify Common Challenging Behaviors2m

Find Companion Books2m

Review Course Requirements3m

Take the Pre-Course Survey10m

Optional Articles10m

Optional Articles20m

5 practice exercises

Praise30m

Antecedents30m

Shaping30m

Simulation30m

Modeling30m

Week

Week 2

6 hours to complete

The ABCs: Part 2 - Consequences

Module 2 focuses on the “C” in the ABC formula which is what comes after the behavior such as praise, rewards, attention, or punishment.

6 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 114 min), 2 readings, 6 quizzes

9 videos

Positive Opposite9m

Point Programs12m

Attending & Planned Ignoring17m

Punishment Basics12m

Punishment Practice Exercise4m

Time Out from Reinforcement20m

Spanking and Alternatives13m

Elijah, Age 6 - Getting ready in the morning13m

Siblings, Ages 8 and 5 - complaining about each other9m

2 readings

Optional Articles30m

6 practice exercises

Positive Opposite30m

Point Programs30m

Attending & Planned Ignoring30m

Punishment Basics30m

Time Out from Reinforcement30m

Spanking and Alternatives30m

Week

Week 3

4 hours to complete

Advanced ABCs - Troubleshooting and Adolescents

Module 3 takes all the ABC techniques into consideration and outlines ways to improve and expand upon the parenting tools. Learn how to modify techniques for your maturing adolescent along with new techniques to foster communication with your child.

4 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 89 min), 2 readings, 5 quizzes

5 videos

Troubleshooting: Part 1 - The Basics23m

Troubleshooting: Part 2 - Advanced Techniques13m

Adolescents: Part 121m

Adolescents: Part 219m

Jasmine, Age 14 - using her phone constantly10m

2 readings

Please note10m

Optional Articles20m

4 practice exercises

Troubleshooting: Part 1 - The Basics30m

Troubleshooting: Part 2 - Advanced Techniques30m

Adolescents: Part 130m

Adolescents: Part 230m

Week

Week 4

5 hours to complete

Special Topics and Conclusion

Module 4 moves beyond the ABC techniques and considers the larger family environment, misconceptions that might hold you back from implementing an effective behavior-change program, helping your child in school, and warning signs that your child may need professional help along with tips on how to find viable treatments.

5 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 109 min), 1 reading, 6 quizzes

8 videos

Nurturing Family Environment25m

Common Misconceptions21m

School Behaviors: Part 1 - Handling Problems14m

School Behaviors: Part 2 - Building Competencies9m

Seeking Professional Help: Part 115m

Seeking Professional Help: Part 28m

Kai, Age 9 - disrupting the classroom11m

Conclusion1m

1 reading

Optional Articles30m

6 practice exercises

Nurturing Family Environment30m

Common Misconceptions30m

School Behaviors: Part 1 - Handling Problems30m

School Behaviors: Part 2 - Building Competencies30m

Seeking Professional Help: Part 130m

Seeking Professional Help: Part 230m

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You’ll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. Learn more.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Everyday Parenting: The ABCs of Child Rearing