It’s funny because when we get married and have children, we get all caught up in the planning of the nursery, baby showers, clothing, how we will feed them and who will stay home to take care of the child, but rarely do we discuss with our spouse exactly how we’ll raise them. In most cases, the parents have ideas about how they were brought up and want to simulate or alter that plan in some way. The first year or two goes by and everything is fine because there isn’t much in the way of disciplining yet. However, by the time the terrible twos hit, each parents’ parenting style begins to emerge. This can cause major problems if it turns out that the two caregivers are not on the same page and are responding in completely different ways. One parent might feel that the other is too strict, so they respond by being more lax. It causes tension and the kids quickly learn whom to turn to when they want something.
In order to avoid this possible pitfall in your marriage and relationship with your kids, it’s advisable that parents talk about this subject and work out the discrepancies prior to having children or as soon as problems begin to arise. The longer the undermining behavior continues, the more tension and aggravating situations will surely present themselves.
For parenting ideas on how to get the best results from your children, and for an organized way of learning new material, try taking an online parenting class. We know that most couples are super busy in the months prior to the new arrival and of course once the children are here, it’s difficult to pull away to get to a formal classroom course. Online parenting classes are a great way to learn cutting edge, thoroughly researched techniques without having to leave your own home.
You can be sure that you are enrolling in a high quality course if it is Better Business Bureau approved, has a customer service helpline, and is designed by someone who is truly an expert in the field, like a practicing Family Therapist. Taking a class together with your spouse from any Internet connected computer device will help you grow together as a team. You will learn such important aspects as the different parenting styles, why empathy is so important, role modeling for our kids, effective communication skills and conflict resolution approaches. You will also learn positive disciplining techniques and how to build self-esteem in your children. The stages that children go through during each age are also discussed so parents can understand if there are developmental issues at play.
All this information from the privacy and relaxed environment of your own home or anywhere in the country that you might travel to! Online classes can be accessed 24/7, so there is no need to miss work, school or family time to attend a traditional bricks and mortar classroom. There is nothing to print out, no workbooks to fill out, and no teacher’s schedule to follow. It’s all self-paced and the class can be entered and exited as many times as necessary until the course is completed.
An online parenting class will give you the confidence and teamwork abilities that you need as a couple to raise healthy, successful children.