- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- special kids today articles
- special kids today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Parent Coaching
The Value of Having Someone on Your Side
By Tracy McGinnis
Answering yes to one or more of these does not mean that you're in a crisis, but working with a coach may provide you with ways to achieve your goals and be the parent you want to be.
Sometimes it's obvious when a parent coach is needed. "Common situations like parents' inability to maintain control during discipline, school issues, mother/daughter conflicts, constant struggles that wear parents down to the point of feeling hopeless – this is usually when they start looking for outside intervention," says Scribner.
The goals of parent coaching are as varied as the individuals who hire coaches. "Sometimes the goals aren't strictly parenting," says Parr. "A parent coach might be hired for business coaching, for example, because there is often a profound relationship between personal/family success and business success. Other goals might be related to fitness, starting a business, balancing career/work, creating family balance, developing a personalized parenting style, being more proactive, transitioning to or from an outside career more smoothly and many more."
Parent coaching is not a situation that needs therapy, clinical assessments or medical intervention. "Coaching may be appropriate in addition to help with other professionals but never as a substitute."