Parenting Advisor - Online Parenting Programs

“My feelings are too loud for words and too shy for the world.” ⁠—Dejan Stojanovic Many parents of young children and teens express one burning desire: that their kids be more emotionally expressive. However, it is vital to understand that there are physiological reasons why children may find it harder to express and regulate their emotions. One is the fact that their brain is still under development and the reasoning part of their brain (the prefrontal cortex) is still very much in development. As such, they rely more on the amygdala, which controls are wide range of emotions. As a result, they may respond more emotionally to a situation, yet find it harder to find words to express their emotions. Having said that, there is...

We all know that exercise is good for physical health. But did you know that it can help improve low moods and depression?  Exercise can boost bad moods and help people manage emotions in healthy ways!  Sometimes exercise can feel like just another task to add to an already busy day, but experts say that exercise matters. As little as one hour of exercise a week can help prevent low moods within all age groups. And that mood boost can happen no matter how intense the exercise is.  Yes, your family is busy, but participating in some kind of activity is important, not only for you but for your children as well.  Finding time for small amounts of exercise throughout the week (or more!) can affect you and your children's...

Experts say that children and adolescents often show symptoms of anxiety and depression after their parents' divorce. When children show many symptoms, their doctors may refer them to a mental health provider. That provider might diagnose them with depression or an anxiety disorder. It can be scary if your child is diagnosed with a mental illness. You may worry about what the future holds for you and your child, and you might wonder what you can do to support them.  After reading this article, you should be able to: - explain what anxiety and depression symptoms may look like in a child. - describe the steps parents usually follow to get a mental health diagnosis and treatment. - list several ways to support a family when a...

After a relaxed summer life, it's hard for kids to get used to school routines. Suddenly they must get up in the morning and remember homework afterward. How can you help your child get emotionally involved in the new school year when you are co-parents? Let's figure out what will make it easier for your daughter or son to adapt to everyday school life with these 4 tips. Ask 10 magic questions Children are just developing the skill of consciously summarizing their experiences. Unlike adults, they don't set out to sit down and thoughtfully analyze their past lives. Eventually, they struggle to formulate a question, which becomes a co-parent's job. Co-parents should help their child recapture memories of the best things he or she...

In Brief Three Phases in the development of Co-Parenting Programs can be identified.  The current Fourth Phase must consider the individuality and special circumstances of each family in programming to be effective.  The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the necessity of this Fourth Phase and the need for continued research and development of multidimensional topics.   According the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of children living with two parents has declined from 85% in 1968 to 70% in 2020. As of 2008, 46 states had mandated the attendance of co-parenting programs for parents who were separating/divorcing (Pollet & Lombreglia, 2008). The increase of children living in single parent homes is alarming for many...