‘PRIDE’ A Fundamental Part Of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Parents often comment they wish their child came with a training manual. This blog is for all parents (and people who care about children.) The skills described below will help parents who want to improve their relationship with their children and those struggling with their child's undesirable behaviors.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) uses well-established and evidence-based interventions designed to improve the parent-child relationship while simultaneously addressing behavioral and emotional issues in children. The acronym PRIDE helps families remember the fundamental skills: Praise, Reflect, Imitate, Describe, and Enjoyment (Enthusiasm) which are integral to PCIT therapy.
Praise: 'Praise' involves offering positive reinforcement for the child's desirable behaviors. This skill focuses on acknowledging and complimenting your child when they exhibit appropriate or desired behavior. Praise reinforces desirable behaviors and encourages your child to repeat them.
Reflect: 'Reflect' describes imitating your child's play and actions. This skill demonstrates active engagement and interest in the child and their activities and helps improve the connection between parent and child. Reflecting shows understanding and empathy.
Imitate: 'Imitate' is similar to reflect but involves copying or mirroring your child's nonverbal behaviors and verbalizations, such as tone, speech, or gestures. Imitating the child's sounds and actions can create a sense of bonding and attunement, helping them feel understood and valued.
Describe: 'Describe' involves providing simple and objective comments about your child's actions, emotions, or situation. This skill helps your child build language skills and shows them that you are paying attention and interested in them and their experiences.
Enjoyment (Enthusiasm): 'Enjoyment' focuses on showing enthusiasm and joy when interacting with your child. This skill includes using nonverbal cues like smiling, a playful tone, and showing interest in your child and their activities. Your enthusiasm can make interactions more enjoyable and fulfilling for your child, leading to a greater sense of connection for everyone.
PCIT is often used to treat behavioral problems in children and improve the parent-child relationship. When parents learn, understand, and actively incorporate PRIDE skills, they enhance their ability to engage positively with their children. PRIDE skills reduce problematic behaviors and promote emotional connection. These skills benefit all relationships and can be adapted to suit different children's and their families' needs.
