Indiana parents learn positive communication through co-parenting program

Indiana parents learn positive communication through co-parenting program

Disruptions in a child’s life can affect a child’s feelings of security and stability and lead to negative impacts on their physical, emotional and cognitive development. In Indiana, when a family is going through a divorce or custody proceeding, judges have the discretion to require co-parenting education. With the national average of about half of all marriages ending in divorce, this situation affects a great number of children.

Purdue Extension’s Co-Parenting for Successful Kids (CPSK) helps parents learn how to be responsive, responsible and respectful to the children – and each other – as they navigate the changes associated with divorce, contributing to the overall well-being of the children involved.

Nearly 100% of the 544 parent participants reported learning ways to keep children out of the middle of adult conflicts, with nearly the same amount developing a child-focused co-parenting plan. Nearly all learned positive communication methods with the co-parent by using “I” messages, and helping their children adjust to the divorce or custody modification based upon the children’s ages and stages of development. All parents said they intended to use the strategies they learned to help their children adjust to the new co-parenting arrangements.