The Partners in Parenting Education (PIPE) model is a preventive intervention for parenting educators. This program is designed to increase the emotional availability and relationship building skills of parents with their babies and toddlers. The PIPE Curriculum Topics The curriculum is divided into three units: 1. Listen, Listen, Listen focuses on emotional communication, regulation skills, and respecting the baby as an individual. 2. Love Is Layers of Sharing focuses on attachment and relationship building. 3. Playing Is Learning focuses on play as a way children learn and the importance of emotional stability for learning. The curriculum is designed for flexibility. Programs can pick those topics, which best meet the needs of the parents with whom they work. The curriculum can be adapted to fit a short schedule (4-8 Sessions) or expanded to a two-year format. Listen Unit Topics 1. Cribside Communication Babies have states of awareness that give clues about how to care for them. 2. Patterns and Expectations A baby's first developmental task is to establish a biological rhythm or pattern. 3. Baby Cues Babies show their feelings with their faces and bodies. 4. Tune In/Tune Out Responding to a baby's engagement and disengagement cues is the beginning of communication. 5. Floor Time Learn how to follow the baby's lead and extend and expand the play. 6. Learning Language Babies learn language from listening and imitating. 7. Music and Rhythm Having fun with music and rhythm helps babies learn about patterns of communication. 8. Reading to Baby Age-appropriate books and realistic expectations make reading a fun, shared experience. Love Unit Topics 1. Love is in the Palm of Your Hand Babies learn love gradually from their parents. 2. Each Child is Different Understanding and embracing differences between parents and a baby. 3. Love Needs a Safe Base Trust is the first love feeling experienced by babies. 4. Joy and Laughter Sharing positive emotions helps love grow. 5. Touch Tones Touch is one way love is communicated to a baby or toddler. 6. Attachment A special invisible tie between a baby and his parent. 7. Love Is Letting Go Respecting the child's need for independence. 8. Love and Limits Providing guidance and limits helps a baby or toddler feel secure and loved. 9. Love Is Sometimes a Rocky Road Building a love relationship isn't always smooth. 10. Emotional Refueling Parents who take care of their needs are better able to take care of their children's needs. Play Topics 1. Playing Is Learning Play is an important way babies learn. It combines fun and socialization, while improving a skill. 2. Playing Is Learning About Differences Play is a good way to see that each baby learns in different ways and at different rates. 3. Baby's First Teacher Parents are baby's first teacher. The daily "grind" can become more fun when a routine turns into something interesting to learn. 4. What Are Children Really Learning? Stabilization and socialization are the most important lessons of the first three years. 5. Learning the "Do's" Play is one way babies learn how to "fit in" and behave. 6. Roadblocks to Learning Negative emotions can interfere with babies' learning. Clear, calm, controlled negative messages set limits and learning continues. 7. Playing Stimulates the Senses All Learning is through the senses. Playing enhances sensory experiences and balances learning. 8. Playing Is Imitation and Turn Taking Babies learn from watching and copying. Imitation games are the first form of play. 9. Playing Is Communicating Play lets babies share feelings, ideas, and knowledge and play establishes a positive communication pattern. 10. Playing Is Problem Solving Babies develop problem-solving skills when they master a task and feel competent and proud.

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