[Abstract] Although the history of child rearing is probably as old as the history ofhuman families, structured and intentionally planned parenting intervention programs are much more recente Throughout this article the authors intend to show that parenting intervention programs use a great variety of procedures and are directed to many different targetpopulations. In order to clarify the different dimensions included in parenting interventions, a four-Ievel pyramidal model is proposed, in which is included what is frequently known as parent education. The specificities of parental education programs are analysed and questions related to the evaluation oftheir efficacy are discussed.