Play and Learning Strategies (PALS) is a research-based parenting program that helps parents support their young children’s social-emotional, cognitive, and language development. The program was developed to facilitate parents’ mastery of specific skills for interacting with their infants, toddlers, and preschoolers that lead to a strengthened bond between parent and child, and better child outcomes.
Parent Outcome Highlights from PALS studies:
Child Outcome Highlights from PALS studies:
The PALS program is facilitated by a trained parent educator who presents each session to the parent(s) and coaches the parent(s) in using specific techniques. In coaching sessions, PALS uses videotaped examples of real parents and children to demonstrate each concept and allows the parent to critique these examples before practicing the new skills with their own child. Guided practice opportunities during each session help parents move from watching to doing.
The PALS Infant and Toddler programs, which includes PALS manuals, toy bags, and supplementary materials, are available for purchase in conjunction with training and certification provided by the Children’s Learning Institute. Materials are available in both English and Spanish.
Trainings:
Contact us to schedule a training or click here to learn more about PALS.
What parents say about PALS:
“If another mom was considering participating in this program, I would tell her that she should definitely do it, because it not only teaches her about her child, it helps her put into perspective goals that she needs to achieve to help her better herself for her and her child’s future.”
“There are many ways I feel that I have changed in my parenting. One of them is patience with my child.”
“I would encourage [parents], especially if they are young moms, to consider participating because you see and learn how your kid’s brain develops and it makes you keep a bond … between you and your baby.”
“A child doesn’t come with instructions, so it’s helpful to see videotapes and practice what I see.”
“It has helped me out at times when I had no clue what to do. There were times when my child had problems I could not understand.”
Studies of PALS have shown significant gains in parent behavior and child outcomes, as compared with families in control groups. PALS has been listed in four national What Works Clearinghouses.
