Would you use a parenting coach?

[whatsthatnow74]

I’m an experienced early years teacher, parent of two daughters and I have just completed a psychology MSc.

I left my job of 12 years back in February with a view to trying something new, then of course Coronavirus got in the way and I haven’t made much progress with finding out what I want to do next!

I really want to use what I’ve learnt in my degree and combine it with my years of teaching experience. I would like to work for myself and help families by advising about behaviour and family life.

Is anyone here a parenting coach? Has anyone used one? Would anyone use one?

TIA

No, I wouldn’t.

I figure if you’re a bad enough parent to need a parenting coach, you probably don’t care enough to hire one 🤷‍♀️

Could you do something with social services perhaps?

I was thinking in terms of parents who don’t know how to manage certain behaviours, that kind of thing. Those who are upset because they can’t deal with things effectively, that sort of thing. Having worked as a pre school teacher, parents often asked for advice about behaviour management.

No I wouldnt. But there are people who hire nannies for toilet training so there is probably a market fr it but is it enough to pay the bills.

@whatsthatnow74 I know two ladies who have similar child-related professions. One is helping parents with sleeping (it's courses on healthy sleeping, associations, overtiredness, positive attitude to sleep and so on) and one is doing physio for babies and children (how to pick up, encourage, what to do and not to do, shoes, sitting, walking when and how and what to avoid). I follow them both on FB, and if desperate would pay 1-1 with both to get help if that makes sense.

Maybe. Do you mean a bit like Supernanny? Or running parenting courses?

@ZooKeeper19thank you. So, a little more focused then. The sleep/routine advisor sounds interesting and something that I've had success with in the past. I will have a think!

There's definitely a market for this kind of thing OP. Check out @theparentandbabycoach on insta for some inspo.

I would say that the way ppl seem to make a success of all these things is by creating content which people can use remotely. Eg The positive birth company now has turnover of about £1m/year I think!!

Good luck x

I think you need to ask what you can do? What qualifies you to do it? For instance what makes you a sleep expert?
As an Early years teacher I would think your better doing some kind of class, parent tot group, such as music or messy play.