Course Type: Live Class

Parent stress has dramatically increased since the start of the pandemic, but children’s essential needs haven’t really changed.

Parents are less stressed when they recognize myths that may cause family conflict and understand what’s most important to help raise thriving, cooperative children. And, good news, kids are more cooperative when they feel positively connected with their parents.

This live online class will help you understand and apply:

• Communication skills that build strong parent-child connections
• Parent behaviors that help kids cope with stress and develop self-control
• Effective discipline approaches that reduce misbehavior and increase cooperation.

You will have a chance to ask questions and get expert solutions on the spot. You will also receive helpful cheat sheets to guide you when trying new approaches.

Co-parenting is often a challenge for parents living apart. The impact of constant stress and arguments can be exhausting. This course will help you recognize factors that interfere with cooperative co-parenting and provide you with concrete strategies to reduce conflict. 

By the end of this live online class parents will be able to: 

● Identify factors that keep conflict going 

● Identify and revise harmful conflict cycles 

● Develop a successful co-parenting plan 

● Apply skills to help you manage co-parenting stress 

● Apply effective strategies to manage conflict 

Even if you are excited about having a baby, it is common to feel worried too. Learn the facts about what to expect from the prenatal process. Get ideas about how to care for yourself and your baby in order to calm your concerns. This class will help you turn your worries into practical steps toward a healthy birth. 

Participants will be able to: 

● Recognize risks to pregnant women and newborn babies, especially for women of color

 ● Identify action steps you can take to protect your health and your baby 

● Work together with your medical provider in ways that will help you build a healthy birth

As children enter adolescence, they have a natural desire for independence. Teenagers’ desire for freedom can be scary for parents/caregivers, however, it is what gradually turns your adolescent into a healthy adult. 

Class participants will be able to: 

● Recognize key factors in adolescent brain development that influence behavior

● Identify factors that make independence during adolescence “risky” 

● Recognize the consequences of restricting independence 

● Identify and apply steps in planning with teens for situations that strengthen the independence 

Does your child have meltdowns when you try to limit behaviors? 

Is your little one suddenly hitting or biting others in frustration? 

Have you tried to resolve these challenging behaviors, and nothing seems to work? You are not alone. Participants will learn 

● Why challenging behaviors are typical at this age 

● How to help children manage their impulses 

● How parents can manage their own distress when challenging behaviors occur

● Positive discipline approaches to help children recover from aggressive behaviors 

● How to implement positive routines that reduce intensely emotional and aggressive behaviors 

Co-parenting is often a challenge for parents living apart. The impact of constant stress and arguments can be exhausting. This course will help you recognize factors that interfere with cooperative co-parenting and provide you with concrete strategies to reduce conflict. 

By the end of this live online class parents will be able to: 

● Identify factors that keep conflict going 

● Identify and revise harmful conflict cycles 

● Develop a successful co-parenting plan 

● Apply skills to help you manage co-parenting stress 

● Apply effective strategies to manage conflict 

For most of us the answer is yes. But it helps to plan mindfully. 

One definition of a blended family is a family consisting of a couple and their children from this and all previous relationships. Sounds so simple, doesn’t it? However, as 40% of US families know, it can be far more complicated. Not just how we spend Christmas, but day to day complications may arise associated with confusion and hurt feelings in both children and adults. 

This class will focus on raising your awareness about the kinds of internal and external struggles many blended families face and identify approaches that can ease the difficulties for both adults and children. 

Are you sometimes frustrated with the material focus of the holiday season? Do the current safety considerations make the holidays and school vacation just seem impossible? Wondering what you can do differently?

Participants in this class will be able to:

• Identify what research tells us kids really want that money can’t buy
• Reflect on your own wishes and behavior related to the holiday season
• Consider family rituals that enrich holiday connections
• Plan together with your family for a holiday that is meaningful
• Plan a school vacation with your family that works for everyone

Many parents report that fewer outside activities for kids and increased work at home while caring for children is causing increased stress, worries and even depression. Mindfulness is a great tool to help parents and children find that calm center that lets us enjoy peaceful, quality time together. Bring the kids to this class where we’ll try out some playful yoga, breathing, and brain calming activities that families can practice every day. 

This class will help you and your children: 

● Gain strategies to calm yourself in the moment 

● Reduce overall stress, anxiety, and depression 

● Use play to connect with each other in happy ways 

All children are sad, anxious, irritable, or aggressive at times. Occasionally kids find it challenging to sit still, pay attention, or interact with others. In most cases, these are just typical phases in their development. However, these behaviors may indicate a more serious problem in some children. Without attention, these mental health conditions can prevent children from reaching their full potential. 

Whether your child is doing fine and you want to  prevent future mental health issues, or your child just  doesn’t seem like their usual self, or has actually  declared suicidal thoughts, you can help.  

Participants in this class will be able to:

• Identify and apply relationship strategies and everyday habits that support good mental health in children and teens. 
• Recognize the impact of parents’ mental health on the family. 
• Recognize and respond to signs in children and teens that more mental health support is needed.