Early Childhood Systematic Training for Effective Parenting
Early Childhood Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (Early Childhood STEP) is a group parenting education program designed for parents of children ages 0–5. Early Childhood STEP aims to teach parents how to encourage cooperative behaviors, avoid reinforcing unacceptable behaviors, and improve relationships with their children.
Group leaders guide participants through weekly topic-focused sessions. Session topics include understanding young children, understanding young children’s behavior, building self-esteem in the early years, communicating with young children, helping young children learn to cooperate, using consistent disciplinary methods, and nurturing social and emotional development.
During each session, group leaders facilitate a discussion centered on the session’s topic that incorporates readings and activities parents completed before the session, show a video that models parenting skills and then lead a conversation about the video content, deliver a skill-building exercise, provide a lesson summary, and assign readings and activities to complete before the next lesson.
Early Childhood STEP does not currently meet criteria to receive a rating because no studies met eligibility criteria for review.
Date Last Reviewed (Handbook Version 2.0): Jul 2025
Date Program or Service Description Last Updated: Jul 2025
Date Originally Reviewed (Handbook Version 2.0): Jul 2025
Sources
The following sources informed the program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information: the program or service manual, the program or service developer’s website, and the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare.
This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, download the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0
Target Population
Early Childhood STEP is designed for parents of children ages 0–5.
Dosage
Groups leaders typically deliver Early Childhood STEP in 7 weekly 2-hour group sessions.
Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings
Group leaders can deliver Early Childhood STEP in hospitals, outpatient clinics, community organizations, or schools.
Education, Certifications and Training
Early Childhood STEP does not have education or formal training requirements for group leaders. Group leaders include individuals with backgrounds in counseling, psychology, psychiatry, social work, ministry, pediatrics, education, or nursing, as well as laypersons.
Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review
- Dinkmeyer, D., Sr., McKay, G. D., Dinkmeyer, J. S., Dinkmeyer, D., Jr., & McKay, J. L. (1997). Systematic Training for Effective Parenting of Children Under Six (Early Childhood STEP): Leader’s resource guide. STEP Publishers.
- Dinkmeyer, D., Sr., McKay, G. D., Dinkmeyer, J. S., Dinkmeyer, D., Jr., & McKay, J. L. (1997). Parenting young children: Systematic Training for Effective Parenting of Children Under Six [Book]. STEP Publishers.
- Dinkmeyer, D., Sr., McKay, G. D., Dinkmeyer, J. S., Dinkmeyer, D., Jr., & McKay, J. L. (1997). Parenting young children: Systematic Training for Effective Parenting of Children Under Six [DVD]. STEP Publishers.
Available languages
Early Childhood STEP materials are available in English. The Early Childhood STEP parenting handbook is available in English and Spanish.
For More Information
Website: www.steppublishers.com
Phone: (802) 257-6900
Email: customerservice@echopointbooks.com
Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.
| Results of Search and Review | Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for Early Childhood Systematic Training for Effective Parenting |
|---|---|
| Identified in Search | 0 |
| Eligible for Review | 0 |
| Rated High | 0 |
| Rated Moderate | 0 |
| Rated Low | 0 |
| Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm | 0 |