Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS POSITIVE PARENTING?

Positive parenting is simply an approach to parenting that gives parents tools and strategies to raise their child in an environment that is safe, loving and predictable. Triple P’s positive parenting allows parents to decide what is important to them. It does not tell parents how to raise their children, but gives them the confidence and skills to build good relationships with their child or teenager, set boundaries and rules, and follow up with consequences that are not harmful.

WHAT IS TRIPLE P ONLINE?

With Triple P Online you will cover all of Triple P’s positive parenting strategies for parents of toddlers to tweens (0-12 years). The eight modules are fun mix of videos, worksheets, tips and activities. They usually take between 30-60 minutes each.

MY CHILD IS A TEENAGER—IS THERE AN ONLINE PROGRAM SUITABLE FOR ME?

Yes! There is Teen Triple P Online for parents of pre-teens and teens (10-16 years). Teen Triple P Online covers all of Teen Triple P’s strategies in six modules. Each module usually take between 30-60 minutes, and includes a fun mix of videos, worksheets, tips and activities.

Why is Triple P Online Free in Ohio?

With support from the Governor’s Children’s Initiative, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund (OCTF) are working to expand Triple P services across the state. When parents and caregivers have the support and resources they need, children are able to experience the positive, happy childhoods they deserve.

This is a fully funded family support initiative, thanks to Ohio Children’s Trust Fund. Many organizations including charities, health centers, schools and local and state governments across the United States and in many other countries provide free access to Triple P. That’s because Triple P is one of the world’s most researched parenting programs. Investing in the future health and happiness of our children and teenagers benefits the whole community. So doing Triple P Online, Teen Triple P Online or other types of Triple P offered on this website is totally free. And no, there’s no catch.

Does Triple P really work?

Triple P is one of the few parenting programs in the world with evidence to show it works. There are literally hundreds of trials and studies to show Triple P works for most families, in many different cultures, and in many different family situations. Triple P Online is also the first online parenting program proven to work. In some regions, parents purchase the program (where funding doesn’t cover free access). In those regions we offer a money-back guarantee.

How long will it take me to do the course?

Each module only takes about 30 minutes to an hour. You don’t need to do it all in one block, either. Some parents prefer to just do ten or fifteen minutes a day. There are 8 modules in Triple P Online and 6 in Teen Triple P Online. There’s also an extra Parenting During Uncertain Times module in each, to help with issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. So if you start today and do one or two modules each week, you’ll be finished in about a month! Of course, it’s totally up to you. If you want to take it more slowly, take a break, or go back and revisit a previous module, that’s all fine too.

Is my data safe?

Triple P International takes your privacy and data protection very seriously. We have rigorous IT security systems and procedures. We don’t share your information with any third-party marketing organizations or unauthorized personnel. Your email address and region are visible to our administration team. Your progress may be visible to a system administrator in case you need to change your email address. All other family information within the program is anonymized. If you’d like more information, please review our privacy policy.

My child is a teenager—is the online course suitable for me?

Definitely, we have Teen Triple P Online. This course is for parents of pre-teens and teens (10-16 years). There are six modules, covering all of the Teen Triple P strategies. Each module usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour, and includes a fun mix of videos, worksheets, tips and activities. You can also sign up for text message reminders.

I have kids in both age groups. Which course should i do?

It depends a bit on which issues you’d like to focus on most. There’s not a hard and fast rule or an exact age at which children develop, so we suggest taking a look at each course to help you decide. You can always do both!

Should both parents do the course?

It is great if both parents can do the course, but it’s not essential. Triple P is used very successfully by single parents. When both parents, or a parent and another carer, both do the course it helps them work as a team to make changes. This includes grandparents, foster parents, and other family members, and even ex-partners, if they also care for your children. It makes it easier to communicate better about parenting, argue and disagree less, and support each other more.

I’ve got a question that’s not covered here

One of the great things about Triple P is that it’s not about telling you what to do in every situation. It’s about helping you feel confident that you can work out what to do. This will be based on what you learn about child or teen development and the strategies you’ve picked up, and your ability to review and refine. So if your question’s about parenting, we suggest you go ahead and do the free program! If it’s about something else to do with Triple P, you may want to try contacting us using this website’s contact details, via our social media channels, or through your local Triple P support service.

HOW DO I KNOW IT WILL WORK?

Triple P is one of the few parenting programs in the world with evidence to show it works. There are literally hundreds of trials and studies to show Triple P works for most families, in many different cultures, and in many different family situations. And the UN also says Triple P’s evidence base is the largest in the world. Triple P Online is also the first online parenting program proven to work.

SHOULDN’T PARENTING JUST COME NATURALLY?

You would never think of getting behind the wheel of a car without a few lessons, yet most of us raise our kids without knowing what works best, choosing bits and pieces we have learnt from our parents and friends, or picked up on Google. But Dr Matt Sanders, the clinical psychologist whose research forms the basis of Triple P, believes parenting is the most important job in the world. After decades working with families around the world, he says parents everywhere have similar goals—they want healthy, happy children, they want a little less stress, and they are relieved when they are given a few tips to make those goals happen more quickly and easily.

WHERE DOES TRIPLE P COME FROM?

The research home base of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program is in Australia, at the University of Queensland’s Parenting and Family Support Centre. The Director of the center is Dr Matt Sanders, who is now regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on parenting. Today, there are hundreds of researchers in universities and institutions around the globe contributing findings that inform the development of new Triple P programs. Their work means Triple P has the largest evidence base of any parenting program in the world.

I don't want to do a course. Will you give me some tips anyway?

It is really important to us, as a parenting program that has been scientifically proven to work, to give parents the kind of information that will make a real difference to them and their families. Our research shows that parents get the best results when they do a guided program that is either guided by a provider, or is done methodically, through an online program. So, this website does not give quick tips, because that kind of advice is unlikely to work in the long term. What we can offer you is a ‘taste’ of Triple P with our hot parenting topics. When you read about Triple P and understand the thinking that is behind it, we hope you will agree its worth putting the time in to do a course—after all, we think it is important to give every child the very best start in life, and it could make your life happier and less stressed.

DO BOTH PARENTS HAVE TO DO THE COURSE?

It is great if both parents can do the course, although this is not essential. Triple P is also used very successfully by single parents. But families with both parents doing the course will experience many benefits at home working as a team to change their child’s or teen’s behavior. You will probably communicate better about parenting, argue and disagree less, and support each other more. Even if only one parent can attend, Triple P is still of great benefit.

CAN TRIPLE P HELP GRANDPARENTS, FOSTER PARENTS AND OTHER CARERS?

The principles of Triple P apply to anyone who cares for children. Grandparents and other caregivers often attend Triple P programs.