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Playsteps

CfC FP ObjectiveHealthy young families
Supporting families and parents
Delivered toParents and carers of children aged 0 to 4. 
Delivered byFamily Support Workers, Maternal and Child Health Nurses, professionals working with children and families. 
Delivery settingCommunity-based 
Program developerQueen Elizabeth Centre 

About the program

Playsteps is a parent and child play-based program helping parents to strengthen their relationship and interactions with their child while learning practical parenting skills and building local support networks.

Program structure

9-week group program where parents are shown videos, given handouts and can participate in discussions about parenting.

Each week covers a different theme:

  • Getting to know you
  • Infant Cues
  • Infant States
  • Follow my lead
  • Teaching my child
  • Circle of Security
  • The path of trust
  • Celebration.

Evaluation and effectiveness

An evaluation conducted by the Parenting Research Centre in 2007-2010 showed that participation in the program was associated with demonstrated improvements in parenting, resulting in changes in children’s emotional and social competence. Strong results were found for the parental mental health outcome measure.  

References

Matthews, J. & Hamilton, V. (2010) Evaluation of the Queen Elizabeth Centre’s Playsteps program. Melbourne: Parenting Research Centre.

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