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Tuning in to Kids

Tuning in to Kids (TIK) equips parents with empathy skills to understand their child's emotions, fostering better relationships and behaviour.

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Program details

  • Priority area: Wellbeing (social and emotional)
  • Primary audience: Educators, parents/carers
  • Delivery mode: Group training, online
  • Strength of evidence: Level 3 – Promising research evidence
  • AEDC sub-domains:
    • Emotional maturity – anxious and fearful behaviour
    • Emotional maturity – aggressive behaviour
    • Emotional maturity – hyperactivity and inattentive behaviour
    • Social competence – responsibility and respect
  • Item cost: Moderate ($200-$2,000 per person/item)

Program description

Tuning in to Kids (TIK) is a parenting program developed in Victoria to train parents to 'tune in to' their child's emotions, while managing their own emotions.

TIK aims to equip parents with knowledge that recognises and understands the underlying cause of their child's emotions. The program intends to strengthen parents' empathy and addresses their own family-of-origin experiences.

The overall goal is to improve and enhance parent–child relationships, parenting practices, and children's emotional competence and behaviour.

TIK parenting groups can only be run by those who have completed the TIK professional training, and are certified as TIK Facilitators.

Detailed cost

Two-day workshop to become a TIK Facilitator: $880/person (including GST).

Implementation considerations

  • Target population: this program is for parents and carers of preschool and school-aged children with or without behavioural problems.
  • Program/practice descriptions and details: the TIK program is described in the program manual and USB, which must be purchased only by those attending the training.
  • Program adaptability: the TIK program has been modified for other populations. These modified programs include: Tuning into Teens (TINT), Dads Tuning into Kids (Dads TIK), and Tuning into Toddlers (TOTS). Further adaptations are in development.
  • Staffing: services will need to consider the cost of backfill in determining the cost of accessing this training.  
  • Training requirements: TIK parenting groups can only be run by professionals who have completed the TIK professional training, and are certified as TIK Facilitators. The training of TIK facilitators requires participation in a 2-day training workshop. These programs run throughout the year at regular intervals in most capital cities in Australia. There is also an in-service model of training for organisations wanting to train groups of staff.
  • Australian experience: the TIK program has been implemented in most states across Australia. Four Random Control Trial studies have been conducted in Australia (all in Melbourne). The TIK Training is available online.

VEYLDF alignment

Item uses these practice principles

Partnerships with families.

Item responds to these sub-outcomes

Children become strong in their social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Education

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