Parents are given a brief exercise related to the session concept to practice at home before the next session. Sessions conclude with a group hug. The intent of the hug is to increase group cohesion, offer praise, and experience positive touch. Children participate in Family Nurturing Time with their parents and engage in age-appropriate activities for the remainder of the session. During the times the parents are in their groups, facilitators engage infants in age-appropriate activities, including infant stimulation, reading stories, holding, smiling, and talking to the infants.
Children participate in songs, games, and large-muscle motor activities.
Children ages 3 to 5 participate in scheduled activities that include Hello Time, Big Motor Time, Circle Time, Art Time, and closing Group Hug. Generally, two staff are required to facilitate the parent groups, and two or more staff are required to facilitate the children's and adolescents' groups. Professionals who have previously facilitated groups and taught parenting education and who subscribe to teaching nonviolent, nurturing parenting values and practices can successfully facilitate the Nurturing Parenting Programs. The Nurturing Parenting Programs teach age-specific parenting skills. The program also addresses the need to nurture oneself.