A divorce that includes children can be considered successful if both parents have the best interest of the kids at heart and do not force them to side or separate from one of the parents. This means that both parents stay involved in the child’s life and don’t include them in their personal drama.
Parents should make a parenting plan to establish the rules and protocol of how the two separate households will operate. For the sake of the kids, it’s important that parents agree in writing on who the children will live with, visitation rights, parenting style, what schools the children will attend, and types of rewards and punishments. Courts across the country now require that parents take co-parenting classes for divorce to help them understand how to best handle their children during this stressful time.
These classes teach parents about how to choose a parenting style that fits best for your family, co-parenting teamwork, challenges co-parents will face, how to set up a parenting plan, the dynamics of step-families, boundary setting, discipline and rewards, anger and conflict resolution, stress management skills and empathy training. A key ingredient is assertive communication skills so ex-spouses can learn to speak to each other rationally and effectively.
If you need to take a co-parenting class due to a separation or divorce, taking a class completely online is the way to go! Online parenting classes are available from any web-based computer device like an Ipad, Smartphone, PC or laptop. The parent can take the course from the comfort of home so he/she doesn’t have to be taken away from the children to go to an in-person class. This reduces stress, babysitting costs and time. Once you register for an online co-parenting class, it immediately becomes available on your screen. The parent simply reads through the material like they would any e-book and takes a final exam. The client can login and out as many times as she likes and the computer program holds the last spot. There is no predetermined schedule to follow so the parent can spend as much or little time on it, depending on her own schedule. A typical 4-hour in-person parenting class would take 1 month to complete. In contrast, an online 4-hour co-parenting class can be finished in one day.
At the end of the course, the parent takes a quick multiple-choice final exam to prove recognition of the material. This test can be re-taken if it isn’t passed with a 70% or better the first time around. Each co-parenting class comes with an official certificate of completion. This is mailed free of charge and can also be downloaded in time sensitive situations. This is the documentation that the court needs to see to prove the requirement was successfully fulfilled.
If you are a parent who is looking for skills to best handle your children and your ex-spouse through divorce and beyond, then taking an online co-parenting class is definitely the easiest and most convenient way to accomplish this goal. Just check with your judge to make sure that online classes are accepted in your jurisdiction and your learning can begin with the touch of a button!