Almost half (45%) of Australian parents report lacking confidence in managing challenging child behaviour. Behavioural parenting programs are the most widely available and promoted option for parents seeking support. These programs typically teach discipline strategies such as time-out and planned ignoring. However, these approaches may not be suitable for all families. Attachment-based parenting programs, grounded in attachment theory, support parents by teaching responsive parenting techniques. While these programs may be more appropriate for some families, there are some barriers to accessibility. Furthermore, attachment-based parenting programs are often less accessible to the general population, as they typically focus on high-risk families and may require significant time and resources from both parents and facilitators to complete.

Aware Parenting is an attachment-based, trauma-informed parenting program that incorporates playful discipline techniques aimed at improving cooperation without the use of rewards or punishments. Despite its widespread use in over 20 countries, the Aware Parenting program has not previously been evaluated. This thesis evaluated a brief, online version of the Aware Parenting program designed for parents of children aged 2 to 4 years. A mixed-methods study design was used, including a literature review, a scoping review, and two randomised controlled trials (RCTs), both with embedded qualitative components. Outcomes were assessed using validated tools measuring parental efficacy, child behaviour, parent-reported attachment style, parental well-being and interviews.

Exploratory analysis of the pilot study indicated improvements in parental efficacy and reductions in child behaviour difficulties. The larger, fully powered RCT found statistically significant improvements in parental efficacy and parent-reported child attachment style. Qualitative findings highlighted that parents found the Aware Parenting approach appropriate, meaningful, and aligned with their parenting values. Many reported that playful discipline helped improve their relationship with their child and gave them confidence in managing behaviour without resorting to behavioural techniques. Some challenges were noted in implementing the approach consistently, particularly in contexts of stress or limited support.

This thesis contributes new empirical evidence to the small but growing body of literature on attachment-based parenting programs that include a discipline component. It highlights the potential of brief, scalable, relationship-focused programs to meet the diverse needs of families. Limitations of this research include the relatively small and non-diverse sample. However, the findings suggest that playful, attachment-based approaches can offer a valuable alternative to conventional behavioural programs for managing child behaviour.