Prior to working at First Three Years, the two principal staff, Claire Watson and Barbara MacKay Ward, collaborated on the internationally-acclaimed Hanen Parent Programs – “It Takes Two to Talk” and “You Make the Difference in Helping Your Child Learn.” Their experiences with these and other programs, led them to realize that there was a need for a prevention program that would focus exclusively on supporting the parent-infant relationship. At that time, new research showed that attachment had a direct impact on the development of the brain. In fact, secure attachment and positive interaction with adults and peers were identified as key factors in school readiness.
Claire and Barb took attachment theory and parent-infant communication theory along with the most effective and researched elements of their previous programs to create Make the Connection (MTC).
MTC 0-1 for babies was completed in 2003 and
MTC 1-2 for toddlers was completed in 2006.
MTC for 2-3 year-olds is currently in development.
Any parent can benefit. We all reach adulthood with varying degrees of unresolved issues from our childhood. Until we look at these issues, we unconsciously live them out in our adult relationships and pass them on to our children.
MTC may be all that’s needed for some parents to fine-tune their nurturing approach and, to that end, MTC is being used across Canada as a universal parenting program. It is also being offered as a first stage prevention program for infants at risk of attachment or communication problems due to infant factors such as low birth weight or a sensitive temperament or due to parenting factors such as poor parenting history, being a teen or lack of parenting support.
Every parent can benefit, but MTC is particularly userful for parents dealing with issues of:
- Limited social supports
- Unresolved parenting history
- Lack of confidence in parenting capacity
- Teen parenting
- Struggle with addiction
- Infant with difficulties
- Adjusting to a new country
- Other life stressors
