Online Relationship Support for Parents

Online Relationship Support for Parents

Most relationships have their ups and downs, and disagreements and arguments are normal. But arguments between parents that are intense, hostile, and poorly resolved can be harmful to their children and put their mental health and long term life outcomes at risk. Learning to argue in ways that are helpful rather than harmful is vital for maintaining healthy relationships, whether parents are together or not.

The digital resources provided by OnePlusOne are designed to help parents reflect on conflict in their relationship with current or ex-partners, as well as the impact on their children. The resources use videos and animations that incorporate evidence-based techniques to promote behaviour change and help parents to argue in ways that are helpful rather than harmful.

For all parents - How to Argue Better

‘How to Argue Better’ is an online resource designed to help parents manage their stress and communicate with one another in ways that are helpful to their relationship and their children.

‘How to Argue Better’ aims to:

• Raise awareness of impact of stress on relationships and parental conflict on children.

• Increase parents’ capacity to cope with stress.

• Support parents to develop positive communication strategies to deal with conflict.

Who is it for?

How to Argue Better is for parents who are still in a relationship with their child’s other parent and who engage in destructive conflict with their partner. It may also be beneficial to those who have significant risk indicators:

• Parental conflict that is frequent, hostile, and unresolved.

• Significant environmental stress.

• Lack of relational skills.

For new parents - Me, You and Baby Too

Learn how to navigate the changes that happen in a relationship when a baby arrives, including:

‘Me, You and Baby Too’ aims to:

• Raise parents’ awareness of the impact of their relationship on their baby.

• Prepare parents for the changes to their relationship.

• Support parents to develop skills to manage conflict constructively.

Who is this for?

‘Me, You and Baby Too’ helps new and expectant parents prepare for changes in their own relationship, giving them the skills to communicate better and support each other at this important time in their lives.

It is aimed at parents who are still in a relationship with each other, during pregnancy or in the first 12 months of their child’s life. It may also be beneficial to those who have significant risk indicators:

• Parental conflict that is frequent, hostile, and unresolved.

• Separation in family of origin.

• Social disadvantage.

• Unplanned pregnancy.

• Lack of relational skills

‘Me, You and Baby Too’ works best when both parents do it together.

For separating parents - Getting it right for children

When parents are separating or separated, children can often get caught in the middle. Learn how to manage conflict to minimise the impact it has on your children.

‘Getting it right for children’ aims to:

• Raise parents’ awareness and understanding of how they are putting their child in the middle of their conflict.

• Help parents to develop positive communication skills.

• Support parents to co-operate and work out solutions together.

  **Who is this for? **

  Getting it right for children is for parents who are separated or in the process of separating from their child’s other parent and who are finding it difficult to communicate with one another. It may also be beneficial to those who have significant risk indicators:

  • Parental conflict that is frequent, hostile, and unresolved.

  • Significant environmental stress.

  • Lack of relational skills.

  To access the courses, you will need a smartphone, tablet, or computer, and a good internet connection. They are all FREE to use, so you’ll just need to select your local authority area and create an account with a username and password.

You can get started by visiting:www.oneplusone.org.uk/parents