In this workshop, we look at the challenges and inherent practical and emotional complexities faced by parents as they navigate separation and divorce. Despite parents’ best efforts, keeping their children’s needs at the center of the process can be extremely difficult yet we know that putting children at the center, rather than in the middle, of divorce gives them the best chance of having positive relationships with both parents (where it is safe to do so) while ultimately thriving.

In this session, we delve into specific strategies to help parents understand and address the emotional and practical needs of their children. Our goal is to equip parents with the tools that help each individual child process change, manage transitions, adjust, and flourish. We look at how to provide the consistency, predictability, and structure that children need to feel safe and secure and we examine how understanding developmental stages and temperament is important in meeting their needs.

We’ll explore the practical parenting strategies of descriptive praise, emotion coaching, and establishing routines and rituals,  all of which help parents nurture their children’s self-esteem, support emotional regulation, improve behaviour, and build essential connection.  Supported by positive parenting skills and a clear understanding of their child’s unique needs, parents feel more confident, more compassionate, and more emotionally connected to their children – during and after divorce. The session uses case studies, scripts and discussion to support the learning.

Trainer: Heather Rutherford

Heather is a parenting coach, founder of The Parenting Partnership, parenting consultant to the school’s advisory service Talk Education, Partner Coach at Careering into Motherhood, and a Care for the Family facilitator.

Heather’s mission is to share practical effective positive parenting skills that not only help parents raise contented, confident and resilient children but that transform family lives.  In all her work, she draws on the latest child development research as well as her own experience of parenting her three children while guiding her family through cancer and divorce.

Her goal is to empower parents with skills that include an understanding of temperament, growth mindset, emotional intelligence and positive discipline,  that help them feel confident, calm, and deeply connected to their children.

She has a particular interest in using these positive parenting skills to help families through the challenges of separation and divorce.