Research shows this nondirective, nonjudgmental playtime reduces a child's problem behaviors at home and at school while building self-esteem. Sixty-two percent of parents still do special play once a week 2 years after completing the program. The family unit of the FAST child is systematically strengthened with hour-long weekly sessions at their FAST family table based on family therapy principles of helping the parents to be both firmly in charge of and lovingly connected to their children. For each family activity, the team puts the parents in charge by giving information and support only to the parents. The family activities include having parents delegate a child to serve their food, constructing a family flag, drawing and talking about drawing, play-acting feelings, and guessing each other's feelings.
Parents oversee the family communication games at their own family table.
Parents allow each person in the family to speak and be heard, which is a basic communication skill for conflict resolution. These exercises develop parental skills in requesting compliant behavior and in monitoring children's behavior. Team members actively support the parents to ensure the success of the family exercises. Child abuse is correlated with later delinquency. FAST incorporates support for parents by having the spouses, partners, or two single parents who are put together by team members spend 15 minutes at each weekly meeting listening to each other speak about issues of concern.