Did you know that 43% of first marriages in America will end in divorce? In many circumstances, this is the best solution for everyone (including the kids). Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions in our society about keeping the nuclear family together. When considering divorce, parents should ask themselves if the atmosphere at home is unhealthy because the parents are not communicating or have a distant relationship. Are you so angry or depressed in your marriage that you are not parenting to your best ability? Or are you and your spouse being poor role models because you are disrespectful and disinterested in each other? Divorce doesn’t necessarily mean that your children will be harmed or have life-long problems. Parents just need to learn how to handle this change of events in the best interest of the kids.

This is where co-parenting classes come in. After over three decades of increases in divorce rates, there is enough research to support the fact that such classes are an essential part of the process. Parents learn that most divorces can be successfully arranged so that the stress is relieved for everyone and the two separate and happier households are formed. It may take patience to develop, but it’s in everyone’s best interest if the two parents can learn to work together and are in sync with how to raise the kids.

Co-parenting classes discuss issues that divorcing parents have to face and remind them not to put the children in the middle of their disputes, be good role models, not to speak poorly of the other parent, and to reassure them that the breakdown in your marriage is not their fault! All of this combined with learning more about how to set strong boundaries, how to listen empathetically to your children, positive reinforcement, building their self-esteem and feeling of safety, and stress management skills work together to create the best possible environment for this life change.

Many judges today realize that enforcing a mandatory class can add more stress to the situation. A traditional classroom setting pulls parents away from the family and work during a time which they are trying to juggle a new and different schedule. Therefore, online 6 hour co-parenting classes have become increasingly popular with the judge’s prior approval. Online classes enable each parent to take the same course but from their own Internet based computer devices. This way they are learning the same material but from the convenience of home instead of having to get to a classroom. Online classes are self-paced and available 24/7, so parents can enter and exit the class whenever they have free time. Once the caregiver enrolls, the class becomes available to read through on the screen in front of them. There are no workbooks and nothing to print out.

When sourcing classes, be sure to go with one that is designed by a licensed and practicing family therapist. Also look for an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a good customer service helpline in case any questions arise. At the end of the program, a Certificate of Completion is sent in the mail, just like you would receive in a traditional classroom. This is the documentation that the judge is looking for to prove the class was successfully finished.

Online co-parenting classes are perfect for busy divorcing parents during this major life change.

Parenting classes educate and support caregivers to be the best they can be. They teach skills and lessons to help build the parent’s strength and confidence and to help create an environment where children can thrive. Many of us spend years training to become teachers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, accountants or engineers, but no time training to become a parent. Children gain their social abilities from the people most involved with them, however most parents never have any formal training in this arena.

It is therefore beneficial for parents of children at all stages and ages to invest some time in a parenting class. Parenting courses are not just for people going through divorce or for court orders, but caregivers in average everyday families can gain new knowledge and skills to help promote the social and emotional well being of their children.

Participants will gain skills in the following areas:

1) Anger management

2) Stress management

3) Role modeling

4) Empathy

5) Communication

6) Listening skills

7) Boundary setting

8) Developmental issues

9) Rewards and consequences

10) Parenting styles

If this course content intrigues you, but you just can’t imagine fitting a class into your already busy schedule, try a distance learning approach! Good quality online parenting classes are available to you at the touch of a button. All you need is a computer device that connects to the Internet and you are on your way. As you know, not all classes are created equal. So, do your comparative shopping and make sure that the parenting education class you choose is designed by a currently licensed and practicing Family Therapist. Check that the company has a customer service helpline and that you can get a hold of a real person if you need to. A Better Business Bureau rating of A+ will insure that the company is legitimate and hasn’t had any complaints against it.

Once you choose your online parenting course, you will be happy to know that the class is available to you on your computer screen 24/7. This means you can fit it into your busy schedule, instead of having to change your busy to include a traditional classroom course. Average parenting classes range from 4 – 16 hours in length depending on how much depth you would like to delve into on each topic. You can login and out as many times as you would like and the computer program will hold your last spot. When you log back in, it will pull up and you can just continue on with the class. There is no time limit, so you can go completely at your own pace.

Some classes require you to print out their course materials to create your own workbook, so they don’t have to send you one. A better option is to choose a class that is completely 100% online. This way you don’t need to use up your ink supply or even own a printer. You can sit in any comfortable spot with WIFI connection and scroll through the class on the screen in front of you. This is a great way to learn while the kids are studying at the kitchen table, while you are sitting and waiting for them at Karate, or even while you are waiting for a doctor’s appointment.

Take an online parenting class today to arm yourself with current skills to raise a healthy and happy family.

Last week we got a call from a client who was a bit distressed. She was recently remarried to a man who has full custody of his two children. She has one child and they are now one big blended family. They had dated for a couple of years and they have all spent a great deal of time together. However, now that they are all living under one roof, she is really noticing that her new husband’s parenting style is different than she expected. He is lot more strict and controlling than she had ever witnessed on weekend get togethers in the past. She was calling because she wants the two of them to get on the same page now, and was wondering if our classes cover the different parenting styles. She felt that if the information was disseminated from a legitimate source, other than herself, he might be more open to changing his ways.

The answer to her was yes. A parenting class could definitely be beneficial to this newly married couple with kids ranging in age from 6 – 11 years old. It’s always important that both parents are consistent and agree on what is acceptable behavior. Once this is decided upon, then the consequences for improper behavior should be clearly communicated to all children so they know what the parameters are. Children actually thrive on this consistency and structure and it will help create a more cohesive family environment.

There are actually 4 main parenting styles that psychologists agree on. They include Authoritarian, Authoritative, Permissive and Uninvolved. The caller was convinced that her husband would fall under the Authoritarian category in which the kids are expected to follow strict rules that he has established. “It seems to be his way or the highway!” she said. This might have worked when he was a single parent, but she was hoping that he could learn more about the Authoritative style and change his ways a bit. In this style, children are also expected to follow rules set by the parents; however, there is more give and take. Children can be assertive and the parents in this picture are willing to listen and respond to their opinions. The mom who called in was really hoping that he would hand over some control and help create a more democratic household.

The other issue she had was that he wasn’t open to going to a traditional classroom to learn parenting skills. He works all week and wants his weekends to relax at home, not march off to some class. This is the perfect scenario for taking an online parenting course. Her husband was open to the discussion but not to participating in a classroom full of strangers. Online parenting classes can be taken from the comfort of home from any web-based computer. Parents can sit together and learn the information in the quiet and privacy of their own home. This environment enables participants to talk about topics and issues that arise as they scroll through the course. They can sit for however long they’d like and enter and exit the class at their own pace. Taking an online parenting class will provide them the most current education on parenting, at an affordable price and without having to worry about babysitters, teacher’s schedules, or driving across town. She was sold on the idea and purchased a 10-hour class to start this weekend!

The days of The Brady Bunch TV hour in which America got to watch as two divorced parents remarried and merged their families together in one happy and untroubled coexistence are long gone. The show was fun but not very realistic. Today, as divorce and remarriage have become the norm, we see in an increase in the number of stepfamilies. In The Brady Bunch the transition was rather seamless and it didn’t appear that the parents had to do much to make the dynamics work. However, we now know that there are a number of things that family members can do to help build healthy stepfamily relationships.

There are many things to consider when combining two families. First of all, the children might still be reeling from the divorce and loss of the other parent in their daily lives. Or, the child might be dreaming that his or her parents will reunite and this new situation is putting an end to that hope. And, the child might feel intimidated by new siblings and even the new stepparent. The child might also be worried that he or she is going to lose the attention or love of the parent to the other new siblings.

It’s an especially important time to make sure that as a parent you are listening closely and showing empathy for your child’s feelings. Acknowledge their concerns, address them with solutions and know that it will take time for your child or children to heal. Help them to get to know their new family members by discussing like-minded feelings, values and interests. Encourage the new blended family to stay positive and take time to develop new relationships so they don’t feel pressured to automatically coexist in harmony.

One of the best ways for parents who are combining two separate families together to address the new lifestyle is to start with an online parenting class. Parenting courses for stepfamilies are designed to teach caregivers the most effective tips and techniques for raising a united, well-balanced and happy family. Often parents find it’s difficult to get to a quality in-person class because of busy schedules or the closest one is miles away and getting there is a hassle.

Take the stress out of your learning experience by taking a parenting class online rather than in a traditional classroom. Quality online parenting programs are available from any web-based computer device in the comfort of your own home, at work, at the library, local coffee shop or even while you are sitting and waiting for your child’s gym class to end. They can be taken at any time of the day or night and completely at your own pace. This means the parents can sit together on the couch at home to learn the material, whenever they have free time.

Online parenting classes address the best ways for parents to speak to their kids, the importance of listening, anger and conflict resolution, boundary and limit setting and appropriate rewards and discipline. They also include information on how to deal with stepfamily dynamics and major parenting mistakes to avoid.

The goal of an online parenting class for stepfamilies to teach caregivers how to understand and deal with the stress their kids are going through during this new transition. Taking an online class is an educational way to improve your skills for overall family happiness and stability.

If you are planning on becoming a foster parent or are trying to adopt a child, most social service agencies will require caregivers to take a parenting program. Onlineparentclass.com is a leading provider of these classes, which can be taken from any Internet based device, anywhere in the country.

Online parenting classes are an excellent resource for busy caregivers who don’t want to miss any work or school prior to the arrival of the child or children. Classes are taken from your computer screen with no need to print out or download any materials. Once you enroll, classes are available to you at any time of the day or night, so they can easily be fit into daily schedules during lunch hours, after work or on the weekends. The course is completely self-paced with no limit on how many times you enter and exit the class. When you exit, the computer program will hold your last spot so you don’t have to waste time scrolling through to find where you left off. And, a huge benefit of taking your foster care and adoption class online is that you sit in the privacy and quiet of your own home to fulfill the court requirement. This alleviates the hassle of trying to get across town to a traditional classroom and gives the participant the focus and quiet he or she needs to learn the material without interruptions from strangers in a crowded room.

Another reason to choose to take your foster care and adoption class online rather than in-person is time sensitivity. In-person classes generally meet once a week, so a 10 hour requirement could take you over 2 months to fulfill. Online classes enable the participant to sit and take the class all at once if they so choose. Realistically, a 10-hour Advanced Foster Care and Adoption class could be finished in one weekend.

Our classes are written and developed by licensed clinicians in mental health. The program utilizes the most recent technology to include graphics, diagrams and text for an interesting learning experience. The goal of our classes is to educate potential parents on the main issues in good parenting. Topics include:

• Challenges specific to foster care and adoption
• Foster care and adoption family dynamics
• Empathy training for new parents
• Assertive communication skills for parents
• Anger management
• Conflict resolution
• Appropriate rewards and discipline for children
• The different types of parenting styles
• How to avoid the major parenting mistakes

At the end of the course, the participant takes a short multiple-choice exam. Once this test is passed, a Certificate of Completion is sent out to you for no additional cost. This is the official documentation that the court will need to see to prove the parenting education class requirement was fulfilled. Certificates can be immediately downloaded and sent overnight if there is a time crunch.

When doing the research for the right class for you, be sure to check that the course is Better Business Bureau protected, provides customer service and is fully guaranteed like onlineparentclass.com!