The Parent Coaching Institute has launched a new initiative called the Parent Success Initiative, centered on sharing Technology Success Stories from parents. Gloria DeGaetano, CEO and founder of the institute, explained that the program is built on the premise that parents themselves are the most effective source of inspiration and practical advice. "What is more inspiring, telling and effective than parents themselves sharing what works for them?" she asked.
The initiative features audio interviews with parents discussing how they navigated technology-related challenges with their children. Each interview is accompanied by a brief summary on the institute's website. The goal is to include parents of children of all ages and developmental stages. One featured story is that of Reem, who shared her journey of realizing that using screens to occupy her 3-year-old was actually contributing to his uncooperative behaviors and meltdowns. Through observation and following her parental instincts, she discovered strategies that worked. She concluded, "It's so much easier to do than you would ever expect. And I swear it's magic."
The institute also links to sobering data showing that more than four hours of daily screen time for babies and toddlers puts them at risk for autistic symptoms. Upcoming interviews will include parents of teens and Tierney Boggs, a PCI Certified Parent Coach and instructor. Boggs, author of a children's book and a book for parents, will share how she and her husband adjusted screen time rules as their children grew.
DeGaetano emphasized the value of peer-to-peer learning: "Parents have so much wisdom and creativity in giving their children the best that they can. Our Technology Success Stories resource is an exciting endeavor because parents are sharing inspiring real-world ideas—not pie in the sky mandates from experts. You can be sure when a busy working parent finds something that works to reduce screen time or discuss potential social media contentious issues with a teen, other parents sit up and notice."
The Parent Coaching Institute is recognized as an innovative leader in family support, offering a year-long online Parent Coach Certification program in affiliation with Southern New Hampshire University. Applications are being accepted for the 2026 Spring Term, with a deadline of Feb. 1. More information is available at www.ThePCI.org.
