The 1-2-3 Magic Program: Implementation Outcomes of an Australian Pilot Evaluation With School-Aged Children

Abstract

This study served as a pilot evaluation of the efficacy of the 1-2-3 Magic Program (Phelan, 2003) as a brief parenting intervention for families with a school-aged child. Nine Australian families assigned to either a wait-listed control group (n = 4) or to one that received immediate intervention (n = 5), participated in a randomized controlled trial. At follow-up assessment, only families who had received training reported significant improvement in child behavior and levels of confidence in parenting ability. As such, the current data provide preliminary support for the short-term efficacy of the 1-2-3 Magic Program as a brief intervention for families of children aged 6–12 years.

KEYWORDS:

• brief parenting programs
• child outcomes
• parent outcomes
• parent training
• supported delivery

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Parentshop Pty Ltd. to discussions about parent training programs of various types and to training of EB in the administration of the Three Choices Program. This study is based on resources from Thomas W. Phelan, PhD, creator of the 1-2-3 Magic Program. That is not to be confused with the 1-2-3 Magic and Emotion Coaching Programme, created by Michael Hawton. These two programs are different in their approach.

Notes

Reasons for withdrawal were as follows: Two families failed to complete the follow-up assessment process; two families in the treatment group failed to begin the 1-2-3 Magic Program with the target child; and one family withdrew from the study due to time constraints.