The way in which you handle your divorce and bond with your kids at this difficult time will affect them for the rest of their lives. It’s extremely important during this sensitive period to support each other and work together to handle all the changes. This means effectively listening and communicating with your kids so they know their feelings are being heard and understood, in other words, really connecting with them.
The Authoritative Style of parenting has proven to be a successful way of raising children. This style is generally more democratic than the Authoritarian way many of us were raised in the ‘60’s and into the ‘70’s. With an Authoritative approach, parents spend more time listening to their children, expressing warmth and nurturing, and allowing them to express their opinions. Interactive discussion with the children gives them the opportunity to problem-solve and encourages independence. However, Authoritative parents don’t just let their kids rule the roost. In these types of households, rules and regulations are established with fair and consistent discipline. Children thrive when they know what to expect and in the long run, studies show that kids who are brought up in this environment tend to be happier, have good social skills, have strong self-esteem and are generally stable people.
During a divorce situation there should be a heightened sense of focus on the kids. Although a grieving parent might just want to focus on his or her own emotions, research shows that the kids need to come first! This is why divorce courts across the country mandate that parents going through divorce take parenting classes. In these classes, parents learn how to provide appropriate goals and limits for their kids while promoting a healthy household environment.
The good news is that divorcing parents no longer need to be frustrated by having to go to a parenting class that meets once a week and takes away from work, school or family time. High quality online parenting classes are available from any Internet connected computer device. This means that caregivers can fulfill their court requirements and gain new skills from the privacy and comfort of their very own homes! All that needs to be done is a quick check with the court to make sure that they will accept an online class.
Standard 4-hour parenting classes generally cover the basic court mandate. Advanced 10, 12, 16 and 26-hour lengths are also available for high-conflict situations. Online classes are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so the parent can take them whenever free time is available whether it be while the kids are at school, napping or late at night after everyone has gone to sleep. And, everything is completely on the computer so there are no workbooks to fill out or papers to keep track of. At the end of the course, the participant simply takes a multiple-choice exam. The test can be retaken as many times as necessary to receive a passing score of 70% or better.
Upon successfully finishing the online parenting class, a Certificate of Completion is sent out to the address designated. This is the official documentation that the court system looks for to prove the class was taken. It’s definitely the most stress-free, educational and interesting way to learn new parenting skills!