The Incredible Years® Program with Easterseals is a free evidence-based program offered to parents of young children, in Hillsborough County, to promote children’s emotional regulation, social competence, language skills, school readiness, and relationships with others. Offered in various locations throughout the county, parents enroll in a 14-week group session that meets once per week with an additional home visit component.
What is the Incredible Years® Program?
The Incredible Years® program is a comprehensive set of interventions aimed at improving the social, emotional, and behavioral development of children. The program focuses on building positive relationships between children and their caregivers by teaching skills in parenting, problem-solving, and communication.
The program offers a variety of workshops and resources targeted at different age groups:
- Incredible Babies
In a group setting, parents will engage with their babies to promote healthy attachments, learn how to read their babies' cues, understand developmental milestones, and so much more!
- Basic Parent and Dinosaur School (3-8years old)
In tandem group settings, caregivers learn about different strategies to strengthen positive parent-child interactions and attachment and promote child(ren)’s social, emotional, language, and academic development, through videos, role play, and open discussion. Children 3-8 years old work together to learn strategies that promote social skills, improve social-emotional competence, and enhance emotional regulation and problem-solving with the use of puppets, activities, and videos.
- Autism Spectrum & Language Delays Parenting Program
Designed for parents of children 2-5 years old on the spectrum or language delayed. A parent-only group where parents learn about different strategies specific to supporting their child’s language skills and “getting in their spotlight” through videos, role play, and open discussion.
Why The Incredible Years®?
1. Evidence-Based Approach The Incredible Years® program has been extensively researched and shown to be effective in promoting positive behavior and improving parent-child relationships.
2. Building Strong Relationships The program emphasizes the importance of building trust, using praise and encouragement, and establishing consistent routines to support emotional and social growth. When parents and caregivers learn to communicate effectively, children feel more secure and develop a stronger sense of self-worth.
3. Empowering Parents and Caregivers Parents and caregivers often face challenges when it comes to managing their children’s behaviors, particularly those with special needs or behavioral disorders. The Incredible Years® program equips parents with practical tools and strategies to address common issues.
4. Promoting Positive Outcomes for Children By focusing on social skills, emotional regulation, and problem-solving, the program helps children develop essential life skills that support their academic success and future social interactions. Children who participate in Incredible Years® show improvements in school readiness, peer relationships, and overall behavior.
How the Program Supports Easterseals’ Mission
Easterseals is committed to enhancing the lives of individuals and families facing disabilities. The Incredible Years® program aligns perfectly with this mission, as it provides families with the support and guidance they need to create a more positive, empowering environment for their children. For families of children with disabilities or special needs, the program offers a tailored approach that takes into account individual challenges, helping to create a more inclusive and supportive home or school environment.
The program also complements Easterseals’ other initiatives, such as early intervention services, special education programs, and therapy services.
Easterseals continues to be a beacon of hope for families, offering programs like Incredible Years® that provide not just support but also the skills and strategies needed to overcome obstacles and thrive.
For more information on the Incredible Years® program, contact them here: IncredibleYears@fl.easterseals.com or call 813-836-4739
