ParentWorks-Unplugged: A parenting program for encouraging healthy screen habits

The parenting intervention is ParentWorks-Unplugged (PWS). PWU consists of 4 sessions: two 2-hour group sessions held once a week for two weeks via telehealth, followed by two 20-minute individual family telephone sessions, also once a week for two weeks. Group sessions will be conducted in small groups of parents and facilitated by trained psychologists with experience in evidence-based parenting interventions. All sessions will be delivered remotely, with participants attending from their home or another private location. The first group session focus on the following topics: psychoeducation on healthy use of devices and identifying purpose/need for technology use, strategies to minimise unhealthy device use and alternative activities to screen use; and goal setting around technology use in play and at other times with children. The second group session will promote evidence-based parenting strategies such as: encouraging positive behaviour through praise and rewards, setting family rules (including rules around child technology use), and use of calm, consistent consequences for noncompliance and challenging behaviour. Individual family phone sessions with psychologists will then support parents/caregivers to implement strategies, review goals and problem-solve challenges. Program components will include goal setting, active skills training, review and feedback and monitoring of skill implementation. Intervention attendance will be assessed through session attendance (number of sessions attended), retention (participant dropout), and parent-reported engagement and implementation of strategies. Parent satisfaction with the intervention will be assessed using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ).