Parent Coaching: Is a Parenting Coach the Answer?

If you had asked me twenty years ago what I thought about families that use a parenting coach, I would have responded with a look of confusion. Though the title itself leaves no doubt as to the services such a position offers, these parenting coaches were essentially unheard of back in those days.

It wasn't until the popularity of television shows such as "SuperNanny" and "Nanny 911" that the idea of a "parenting coach" became embedded into the psyches of the nation's most desperate (and/or incompetent) parents. Though these shows referred to their protagonists as "nannies,” their true job description was more in line with what a parenting coach does.

The job of a parenting coach is fairly complex. In a nut shell, he or she is essentially responsible for teaching parents how to be better parents. Parent coaching involves a lot of observation, experimentation, and troubleshooting. Sometimes a structured reward system or discipline plan is put in place along with a posted list of household rules and expectations. Parent coaches also instruct parents on how to communicate effectively with their children and how to best utilize the strengths of each parent as well as the strengths of each child.

A quality parenting coach equips parents with a variety of intervention ideas, behavior management tips, and easy-to-use discipline strategies that help to improve the overall parenting experience…and ultimately, their children's behavior.

Parent coaching is effective and it can literally change the lives of families that were once "at a loss" with regards to their children's behavior.

Another option that parents can try is to purchase an online behavior program similar to those that are put in place by professional parenting coaches. One such program, The Parent Coach Plan, is available at just a fraction of the cost of hiring an actual parenting coach. This allows for a more affordable and less intrusive process.

The Parent Coach Plan allows parents to take charge by becoming their own parenting coach. It also includes a wealth of parenting tips, discipline strategies, and a whole section devoted to teaching coping-skills to children.

Whether you choose to employ a professional parenting coach or you choose to utilize a program such as The Parent Coach Plan, you are sure to see results…and that makes for happy families!