Parent Coaching  

arent Coaching is an effective way to specifically tackle current issues affecting a family’s/child’s life.  As a parent, you are the coach of your family’s “team” – and your children your MVPs (most valuable players)!  You are the one they trust to teach them, guide them, encourage, and support them; the one to show them how to play - win or lose.   Most important, you are the one they trust to BE there for them as they test boundaries, take risks, and embrace challenges.  Parenting is a job for which we have no formal training and no “help” icon to click on, so it is not unlikely you will occasionally find yourself in need of a little help or inspiration with the ‘game plan’, which is why The Storybook Center offers Parent Coaching, an effective way to specifically tackle issues affecting a family’s/child’s life.  After all, coaches benefit from coaching, too!

The ultimate goal of our parent coaching is to make you the best teachers for your children by providing instructions and support to help you navigate your children’s first several years of life.  That is accomplished by fostering communication, and, thus, a better understanding, between your and your young children using our activity-based, family-oriented approach.

Parent coaching will give you guidance on how to explain or interpret your child’s (and your own) behaviors…how to play more creatively with your child… manage his aggression or her indifference… encourage speech in your speech delayed child… what to do so your child is less clingy, whiny, loud, shy, etc.  Parent coaching will help you correct and direct your child’s (and your own) behavior in a positive manner.

Our coaching package consists of 4 introductory sessions.  The first is an office visit, where areas of needs and questions of interest are discussed.  The second session is a home visit, where the home environment is observed and interactions between the child and the family are assessed.  Goals on how to change the home environment into a dynamic environment capable of fostering creativity, language, and social skills are discussed. During the third session, results from the first two visits are used to establish a plan of action that encompasses the desired, specific areas of focus and the unique environment/routine of the family.  The fourth session is a follow-up meeting to see how the initial goals and beginning objectives are being received, and what, if any, further steps need to be taken.  For some this may be all that is necessary to put your team back in the game, with perhaps two or three follow-up visits at the center or by phone during the next month or two.  For others who wish or need more coaching, additional 3-, 6- and 9- session packages are available.

So, if you find yourself letting your child sit in front of the TV more often because it’s a convenient babysitter and/or a great way to avoid conflict…..if you find yourself standing in the toy department, wanting to buy a fun/educational/safe/age-appropriate toy for your child and don’t know where to begin…..if you are worn out trying to come up with more challenges for your inquisitive child….if you and your spouse want to go out for a quiet evening together, but you can’t tear away from your child who is imploring you, “Don’t leeeeeeave me!!....if you are worried because your child has delayed speech…if you are embarrassed to socialize your child because he or she is a biter/kicker/hitter…or if you just need someone to talk to, someone who ‘gets’ what you are going through,  help is available in the form of Parent Coaching from The Storybook Center.