How many of us had a high school or college course on how to be a parent? How often do we wish we could pick up the phone and ask someone what to do with our rambunctious two-year-old or independent-minded teenager? How do we learn to set appropriate limits or impose logical consequences?
“Good parenting” doesn’t just happen. It requires patience, child development knowledge, consistency, kindness, problem-solving skills, increased time together, and of course humility. According to the Parent Coaching Institute, a parent coach supports parents by:
- Listening non-judgmentally
- Asking questions that may have been overlooked
- Supplying new and relevant information for specific challenges
- Offering suggestions to help the parent modify strategies
- Modeling attitudes and skills for better communication
- Providing practical ideas based on the latest research
- Strengthening and encouraging parents as they make difficult changes
- Acting as a sounding board and resource through difficult decisions
What can you expect from parent coaching? We work with you for three or more months through an hour-long session in our office or over the phone, weekly or bi-weekly, scheduled at your convenience. One parent, or couples together, may participate. Issues such as sibling rivalry, peer-related pressure, TV and video games management, and discipline challenges are addressed. In short we help both overwhelmed new parents and skilled veteran parents.
Ann Tanner, psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker, has spent the last 28 years raising five children. She has taught parenting courses in Connecticut, New York, and throughout California. Those courses have included a 5-week class on Parenting Teens, an 8-week course on “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk®,” a year-long course for drug addicted moms and their newborns based on “Love and Logic®,” and a 6-week parenting skills class for non-profits.