Abstract In the first part of the study behaviour of nine mothers with mental handicap towards their children was compared to that of a contrast group toward their children. Praising and labelling rates by the mothers with mental handicap were less than those for the contrast mothers while there was little verbal and no physical punishment by either group. In the second part of the study following a multiple baseline procedure the mothers with mental handicap were sequentially trained to praise and to engage in positive physical behaviour; to label and to ask questions and to model activities. While there are few data points, praise and labelling as well as the other targeted behaviours increased after training for most mothers with mental handicap. However, several mothers learned slowly and lost their gains after a month's follow‐up. These mothers were characterised as having problems in addition to their mental handicap that would interfere in their optimal learning of stimulating parenting skills. The implications of these results are discus