Research Findings

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Proof Positive...

How To Talk So Kids Will Listen workshops are effective!

How To Talk So kids Will Listen and our Siblings Without Rivalry workshops have been used successfully by literally tens of thousands of parent and teacher groups for over a decade. Some of you who are dependent on outside funding may be finding that grants are becoming increasingly difficult to come by. Since funding from any source often requires evidence of effective use of resources, many of our leaders have asked us to demonstrate to others what they have already learned from their own experiences.

The following two studies may be of help:

Wisconsin

In 1990 the Wisconsin Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse joined forces with the North District Family Living Agents of the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension to embark on a three-year commitment to parent education. After careful consideration they chose How to Talk So Kids Will Listen as their training program.

Some of the reasons stated for this selection were:

The facilitator does not need formal mental health training;
The kit is flexible and adaptable to many settings and formats;
Although it is designed for groups of six to twelve, it works successfully with both smaller and larger groups;
It is effective with different learning styles and reading abilities. Those who can't read can learn by listening;
It's funny, entertaining and touching. Not preachy or clinical.

Thus far, Family Living Agents, with the help of a federal grant, have used the How To Talk So Kids Will LIsten program to train more than 100 volunteers to facilitate parent support groups in thirteen counties. More than 6900 parents have been reached to date.

The program has received consistently high evaluations by participating parents, group leaders, and home economists both in Wisconsin and nationally.

Colorado and North Dakota

In a recent study of five different family education programs, How To Talk So Kids Will Listen had the highest percentage (88%) of respondents reporting one to three positive behavioral changes two to five months after the last session.

Although all of the programs tested resulted in positive behavioral changes, the only program that provided higher-level positive family functioning improvements was the How To Talk So Kids Will LIsten program. Self-esteem, family coping and qulity of life levels all rose, while stress and depression levels fell. When participants were asked, "Do you want your tax dollars to continue to support this type of effort?", 97% of respondents said yes to supporting How To Talk So Kids Will Listen.™

The research, by Robert J. Fetsch and Deb Gebeke, was reported in an article, "Colorado and North Dakota Strengthening Marriage and Family Programs Increase Positive Family Functioning Levels" and was published in the Journal of Extension, Vol. 33, No. 1, Feb. 1995.

Over the years we have also received a huge amount of anecdotal evidence and enthusiastic testimonials from scores of parents and professionals. However, we feel that the above two objective studies may bear more weight and prove more valuable to you.