Parenting Courses Online
Parenting is the hardest, most important job many of us will ever have. And I don’t know about you, but nothing I read or learned before my kids were born adequately prepared me for the challenges of parenting my kids. I would figure out what worked at one developmental phase only to find myself in need of a new set of strategies when they hit the next phase. I was in search of parenting advice at the same time I was navigating sleepless nights and the budget and time demands of being a working parent.
Finding resources that fit your family, time constraints, and give you real tools you can use in your parenting journey can be so tricky. An online parenting program might be one solution. But what do you look for in online parenting programs?
Online parenting programs
Online parenting programs are available from a variety of sources, and come from a number of different perspectives. You can find programs that cover different ages or stages of children’s development or that offer a more universal viewpoint. Some programs include live classes, but many offer prerecorded video lessons that you can view on your schedule. What most cover are skills that contribute to caregivers’ ability to parent their children confidently and with solid skills. Lots of parents really want more information about discipline, and it’s a topic covered in many online parenting programs with some differences in perspective.
Nurturing parenting classes online
If your parenting style is a gentle or positive one, you can find nurturing parenting classes online. These courses typically include some ideas about connecting with your children and using skills to increase their emotional awareness and development.
Positive parenting plan
Online parenting programs can give you everything from philosophy to very specific strategies for accomplishing goals in your household, including chore charts, parent-led “boot camps,” and exercises that help you develop a positive parenting plan. These plans include using positive parenting skills that foster connection along with using effective discipline and behavior management techniques.
Best online parenting classes
So how do you decide on the best online parenting class for you? Here are some ideas:
First, decide on your budget–both time and money. Research something that works for both. More may not be better, it may just be overwhelming.
Seek out someone with genuine expertise about children and their development and needs.
Be comfortable with the philosophical perspective of the instruction. If you’re not inclined to be punitive, a class that focuses on strict and corrective consequences may not be for you.
What’s best for you?
If a nurturing online parent class sounds like what you want for your parenting style, take a look at our online parenting course, Parenting with Purpose. It’s an online course you can take at your convenience. I teach you the tools I’ve learned as a child therapist, so you can use them on purpose to make your parenting feel more effective and help you be more connected to your children.