I-care : A study to reduce disruptive behavior in childcare settings
Why develop a program to prevent disruptive behavior ?
Disruptive behavior is common among young children, but if it persists, it can negatively affect their social relationships as well as family and school functioning.
As early as two years old, children begin learning how to manage their emotions, express their needs appropriately, and behave well in group settings.
These socio-emotional skills are essential for educational success, and their development depends on the support of surrounding adults, such as parents and early childhood educators.
Study objectives
I-care is a randomized controlled trial that evaluates the impact of two support programs: Brindami and Ces années incroyables. To date, over 100 early childhood educators and 600 families have participated in the study.
01
Brindami
Brindami aims to promote the development of social behaviors (e.g., sharing toys, making requests, managing emotions) to enhance children’s well-being in their interactions with others. The program uses a unique delivery method — a puppet named Brindami who directly engages with the children. First introduced in 1997, Brindami has since visited over 80,000 children in childcare centers (CPEs), delighting them as a cheerful and energetic little mouse. Two studies suggest it has beneficial effects. In this current project, the program is enhanced (Brindami+) to include support and training for educators.
02
Ces années incroyables
The Ces années incroyables program helps parents develop and strengthen practical strategies to support their parenting role. Used around the world for over 30 years, the program promotes more harmonious parent-child relationships, improved problem-solving skills, and enhanced family communication. It consists of 14 sessions, each lasting approximately two hours, during which parents view video vignettes that depict real-life interactions between parents and children. The sessions also include group discussions, hands-on activities, and opportunities to practice and refine new parenting strategies.
Study results
ScienceDirect article
Research team
Nom
Université de Montréal
Nom
Université de Montréal
Nom
Université de Montréal
Nom
Université de Montréal
Nom
Université de Montréal
Nom
Université de Montréal
Our partners
