Adapting a Parenting Intervention to Promote Healthy Screen Time Habits in Young Children With Externalizing Behavior Problems

For the screen time adapted parenting intervention, screen time intervention components will be infused into the SRPP (described below) to address three primary areas shown in research to play an important role in healthy screen media use: (1) reducing and managing screen time use; (2) maximizing benefits of screen time content; and (3) promoting positive parent-child interactions during co-use of screen media. Psychoeducation and practice of these strategies will be incorporated into sessions of the SRPP in which relevant behavioral concepts are addressed.The screen time adapted parenting intervention will utilize the same format (large group, 8 weekly 1.5 hour sessions) as the SRPP.

The SRPP is an 8-week parenting program for parents of preschool aged children with externalizing behavior problems. The SRPP targets child externalizing behavior problems specifically, as well as to help parents promote children's school readiness skills. The SRPP follows a group Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) model and also uses motivational interviewing and modelling problem solving approaches. The SRPP utilizes a large group format (10-15 parents) with weekly sessions lasting 1.5 hours. The SRPP curriculum contains traditional aspects of behavioral management strategies (e.g., improving parenting skills and the parent-child relationship; discipline strategies such as time out). Specific sessions of the SRPP also directly target parental interactions during children's learning activities and setting up homework and household structure and routines. In its original form, SRPP does not address children's screen time.