Choosing Parenting Curricula Based on the Strengths, Interests, and Preferences of the Parents Who Will Use Them.

This paper asserts that the diversity of existing parenting programs is an advantage, and that one program cannot possibly meet the needs and interests of all parents. The challenge, therefore, is to find the curriculum that will best suit a specific parent or group of parents. The discussion in this paper develops a questionnaire for professionals and parents to use for this process, focusing on two questions: (1) What does the curriculum offer?; and (2) What is the parent looking for? First, the paper identifies descriptive characteristics of curricula. Second, for each characteristic the paper develops a list and/or set of questions that can serve as a means of describing what a curriculum offers. These lists and questions form the first part of the questionnaire and provide a means of answering the first question, i.e., what does a curriculum offer. Third, the paper adapts the lists and questions so that they ask about parents' strengths, interests, and preferences. These questions form the second and third parts of the questionnaire and provide a means of identifying the needs of those who will use the curriculum. The second part is for parents to answer; the third part is to answer about a group of parents. A comparison of the answers to what a curriculum offers and what parents are looking for should guide people to select a curriculum that will meet their needs. Contains 46 references. (EV)