The Institute recognizes that as facilitators of parent-baby and transition classes, parent educators can have a powerful influence on how parents interact with their children. The more prepared parent educators are to work with parents, the more tools parents can use to support their children’s growth and development. The research-based information that parent educators share with parents offers straightforward, evidence-based practices for effective parenting.

Between 2015 and 2020, the First 36 Project trained more than 50 parent educators from early childhood centers in Los Angeles and Colorado on topics including the importance of secure attachment, understanding temperament, self-regulation, executive function, communication, and empathy. Now, the Institute teaches these same topics directly to parents through its CuddleBright® initiatives.