If you’ve struggled with any aspects of parenting, you may be tempted to throw your hands in the air and declare your surrender. And you wouldn’t be the only one—66% of parents say parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago, citing technology, social media, and behavior issues as top stressors.
But you don’t have to feel like your home is ruled by tiny tots or temperamental teens when there’s another option: parent coaching. Studies show that structured parenting programs, including 1:1 coaching, can lead to improved child behavior and a significant decrease in parental stress and depression.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about this game changing resource, so you can create the vision you’ve always had for a harmonious home.
What Does a Parent Coach Do to Help with Child Behavior and Parent Stress?
Did you know that parents report burnout and stress at a rate that is 13% higher than non-parents? If you’re raising your hand here, we feel you!
That trend has steadily increased since 2019 too. The pandemic, economic pressures, and the constant feeling of needing to do everything right all the time are contributors.
The good news is, you don’t have to get it all perfect. Parents are human and need to cut themselves some slack. It’s also completely okay, and even encouraged, to ask for help, like partnering with a parent coach, to get things back on track.
Like life coaching or career coaching, parent coaching is a specific kind of coaching that helps parents and other caregivers navigate the challenges of child development within the family unit — whatever that looks like for you. A parent coach provides support, evidence-based parenting tips, and, most importantly, empowerment for parents in dealing with their kids’ behaviors and family dynamics.
Think of parent coaching as your personal parenting GPS—minus the frustrating "recalculating" every time you make a wrong turn.
Is Parent Coaching Just for Child Behavior Problems?
Nope. Parent coaching isn’t just for tantrums and time-outs (though it’s great for those too). It’s a flexible, judgment-free resource for all kinds of family dynamics.
Whether you’re trying to stop the yelling cycle, looking to better balance parental duties, navigating a tough co-parenting relationship, or just offloading some of that crushing mental load, a parent coach can help. Think of it as expert support for behavior challenges, family communication, and parenting burnout—all rolled into one.
Because parenting isn’t just about managing your kid’s behavior. It’s also about making your home feel more like a team and less like a pressure cooker.
What Parenting Challenges Can a Parent Coach Help With?
Parent coaching is highly personalized based on the unique needs of you and your children. It can help with a multitude of issues that put a strain on day-to-day life and have long-term effects on both family relationships and personal health.
Here are some of the things that a parent coach can help with.
Clarifying Family Values with a Parent Coach
Family values are basically your family’s mission statement—the foundation for decision-making, communication, discipline, and so much more. They’re the “this is what we stand for guide” that anchors parents and kids around the same set of core beliefs that help keep things on track—both at home and out in the world.
If you’re trying to define your core family values, a parent coach can ask the right questions to help you articulate what those are. Then, they can offer advice on how to successfully reinforce your values in everyday living with your words and actions.
How Parent Coaches Help Set Boundaries and Discipline Strategies
Do you or a partner find yourself waffling about discipline? We get it — it’s hard with kids at every age.
And you’re not alone. One 2023 poll showed that nearly half of parents reported a desire to be more consistent with discipline.
This is another place where parent coaching can help. Your coach can work with you to define boundaries and rules that work for your parenting style and family. More importantly, they can offer tips on how to stick to them without second-guessing yourself—because let’s be honest, discipline is way easier to talk about than to enforce.
Parent Coaching for Better Communication with Kids
A major part of parenting is communication. But understanding that and practicing it are sometimes two entirely different things.
For parents who need effective communication strategies, a parent coach can be a game changer. For instance, you might learn that your old approach of asking your six-year-old to put away their toys and get ready for dinner isn’t working because it’s giving your child the perceived option of saying no. Instead, you can learn how to voice “must dos” in a way that’s kind, effective, and not open to misunderstanding.
You'll become skilled at talking to your kids so they listen without having to repeat yourself 47 times. Yes, it's possible!
Parent Coaching for Behavior Problems
Dealing with behavioral challenges is one of the top reasons parents contact us about parent coaching. Often these issues go hand in hand with some of the transitions listed below.
A parent coach knows how to recognize and tackle these situations as well as how they overlap with discipline and communication. You’ll get parenting advice and practical strategies you can use right away to start changing unwanted or unhealthy behavior and achieve less friction at home.
Parent Coaching Through Transitions Like School, Sleep, and Sibling Struggles
Some parenting challenges show up like clockwork—others hit you like a truck at 4PM on a Tuesday. Whether it’s navigating a new school routine, handling a clingy toddler, or figuring out how to co-parent during a divorce, transitions are where many families need the most support.
A parent coach helps you prepare for, respond to, and actually grow through these shifts—without losing your mind (or your voice). Here's how they can help during some of the most common parenting transition points.
Morning & Night Routines
If your mornings feel like a sprint and your evenings end in tears (yours or theirs), you’re not alone. Routines are where structure meets real life—and that’s where things often fall apart.
A parent coach can help you:
- Build predictable daily routines that actually stick.
- Develop visual schedules and routines tailored to your child's age.
- Troubleshoot bedtime battles and the infamous “one more cup of water” delay tactics.
- Reduce parenting stress during transitions between activities.
These aren’t just to-do lists. They’re behavior-shaping moments. And with the right support, they can feel a whole lot smoother.
Starting Preschool
The first big goodbye at the classroom door? It’s a milestone for both kids and parents. Preschool transitions can bring separation anxiety, behavior changes, or a sudden refusal to put on shoes.
A parent coach helps by:
- Preparing your child emotionally for the change.
- Offering age-appropriate behavior support strategies for drop-off struggles.
- Helping you manage your own feelings about the transition.
This stage is about developing independence in toddlers—but you shouldn’t have to figure it all out alone.
Sibling Struggles
Whether it’s full-on wrestling matches or passive-aggressive toy snatching, sibling conflict is a common source of household tension.
A parent coach can:
- Help you set clear expectations and family rules around sharing and personal space.
- Support positive behavior strategies for sibling rivalry.
- Guide you in giving each child what they need—without feeling like a referee in your own home.
Conflict happens. Coaching helps you turn it into connection (and maybe even a little peace and quiet).
Potty Training
Potty training is one of those “everyone has advice” topics—but your child isn’t “everyone.” Some kids get it fast. Some need a plan. Others need a new rug.
A parent coach offers:
- A customized potty plan based on your child’s temperament and development.
- Help navigating behavioral resistance or anxiety.
- Support for parents managing their own frustration or fear of “doing it wrong”.
This stage is big on independence—but also on mess. Coaching gives you a clear path forward (and a better success rate than Google).
Teen Independence
If you’re parenting a tween or teen, you're likely deep in boundary testing, emotional outbursts, and requests for more freedom. It’s a huge developmental shift—and it comes fast.
A parent coach can help with:
- Setting realistic boundaries around independence, technology, and social life.
- Navigating emotional and behavioral changes during puberty.
- Strengthening your parent-teen communication so you’re still heard (even when you’re not cool anymore).
- Think of this phase as the rehearsal for adulthood. A coach helps you lead it with confidence instead of chaos.
Divorce or Remarriage
Family structure changes—like divorce, remarriage, or blending families—can stir up everything from grief to behavior regression to loyalty conflicts.
A parent coach supports you by:
- Helping kids understand and adapt to changes in family dynamics.
- Offering guidance on co-parenting communication and boundaries.
- Teaching tools to manage emotional behavior in children triggered by family stress.
You don’t have to navigate the emotional minefield of a major transition alone.
Other Transitions That Can Trigger Behavior Changes
Life throws curveballs. Some are expected (starting kindergarten), others come out of nowhere (a sudden move or illness in the family).
A parent coach can help with transitions like:
- Starting a new school.
- Moving to a new home.
- Loss of a family member or pet.
- Introducing screen time limits or social media boundaries.
- Adjusting to new medical or mental health diagnoses.
Every transition is a chance to build resilience—with the right parenting support and tools, it’s also a chance to strengthen connection, trust, and calm.
Parent Coaching for Anxiety, Stress, and Emotional Behavior in Kids
Many kids also have their own one-of-a-kind fears that can stress them out and result in behavioral concerns—some logical and some straight out of a pixar movie. Monsters under the bed? Terrifying! A speck of dirt on their sock? Apparently, also a crisis.
Your parent coach can guide you and your child through everything from imaginary monsters to very real anxiety about playground bullying or starting at a new high school.
Parent Coach vs. Life Coach vs. Therapist: What’s the Difference?
Parent coaches are similar to life coaches or therapists with a few key differences that tailor their services to your needs.
Credentials
There are no set requirements to become a parent coach. That's why connecting with a Poppins-vetted parent coach is important. We hire parent coaches with backgrounds in education, counseling, and child development. We also invest in in-depth training for our coaches to ensure a high-quality and consistent experience for all our clients.
Focus
Parent coaches concentrate on parenting issues and common scenarios like those listed above. A life coach, on the other hand, has a much broader scope, assisting clients with goal-setting and support in areas like their career, relationships, and mindset, and does not offer expertise in parenting and family life.
A therapist is a licensed mental health professional trained to help individuals navigate emotional, mental, and behavioral challenges through talk therapy. While a parent coach can help parents identify and eliminate drivers of stress or anxiety in their household, parent coaches are not mental health professionals, and parenting coaching is not a replacement for therapy.
Interventions
In some instances, a parent coach can provide guidance and strategies when a child’s behavior is particularly disruptive to the family or causing physical or mental health issues. Additionally, a parent coach can suggest resources for professional interventions when it might benefit the child or family, such as special education or assessment by a medical or behavioral health professional.
Top Benefits of Parent Coaching for You and Your Child
We’ve touched on some of the advantages of parent coaching above—but let’s break them down a bit further. Whether you’re managing daily meltdowns, feeling overwhelmed by parenting decisions, or just trying to build a stronger connection with your child, parent coaching can offer clarity, calm, and a real plan forward.
How do these sound to you?
Better Parent-Child Communication
A parent coach helps you learn how to speak so your child actually listens—and how to listen so they feel truly heard. This means fewer power struggles and more mutual respect, especially in emotionally charged moments.
Increased Parenting Confidence
When you have someone walking you through challenges, it’s easier to trust your decisions. Coaching helps reduce second-guessing and gives you a clear framework to follow, even when parenting feels messy and unpredictable.
Deeper Parent-Child Bond
Kids thrive on connection. When you shift from reactive parenting to intentional interactions, you naturally strengthen your relationship. Coaching gives you tools to build secure attachment, especially during transitions and behavioral challenges.
Reduced Parental Stress
Let’s be real: parenting can be exhausting. A coach helps take the weight off your shoulders by giving you actionable strategies tailored to your family’s needs. No more decision fatigue or spiraling through late-night Google rabbit holes.
Improved Behavior Management Strategies
Coaching goes beyond time-outs and sticker charts. You’ll learn research-backed techniques for setting limits, reinforcing positive behavior, and responding to defiance or meltdowns with more calm—and way less yelling. That’s what real behavioral support for families looks like.
The Final Word: You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
Here's a mind-blowing stat: 69% of parents said they'd use more positive parenting strategies if they knew them. Well, consider this your official invitation to have less stress at home.
Parenting isn’t a perfect experience, but it should largely be a rewarding and joyful one, right?
Ready to get started? Poppins coaches are here to help you build a parenting plan that fits your real life—no sticker chart required.
Is Parent Coaching Right for Your Family’s Behavior and Routine Needs?
Are you someone who could be helped by a parenting coach? The answer is yes if you check one or more items on this list:
- You feel overwhelmed.
- Nothing has worked so far.
- You have a problem that needs quick resolution.
- You want a solution personalized to your family’s needs.
The last point is a particularly important one. 63% percent of parents say they’re skeptical of taking parenting advice from people who don’t know their child or the specifics of their situation.
Parent coaches invest time to get to know your family, your parenting style, and your core values, so their advice is tailored to meet your needs, whatever they may be.
How Much Does Parent Coaching Cost—and Is It Worth It?
The cost for parent coaching varies widely. With traditional parent coaching, you can expect weekly sessions that cost roughly $100-200 per one-hour session, with many programs lasting 12 weeks. That’s a big investment!
However, the Poppins model offers parent coaching and 24/7 pediatric medical support for $50 per month. Our model gets you all the benefits of parent coaching at a fraction of the cost. This ensures we can bring this amazing resource to all families, not just a few.
So, is it worth it? If you're looking for affordable parenting support that helps reduce stress, improve behavior, and strengthen your connection with your child, the answer is a resounding yes. The return on peace of mind alone makes parent coaching one of the smartest investments you can make for your family.
What to Look For in a Parenting Coach: Experience, Fit, and Support Style
Choosing a parent coach is a bit like choosing a partner in a high-stakes relay race—you're passing the baton on some of the most personal and important aspects of your family life. And just like any good partnership, you need trust, alignment, and the right kind of energy to make real progress.
If you’re new to the idea of parent coaching, here’s what to look for when deciding who to work with—and how to find the right fit for your family’s needs.
Relevant Experience
Look for someone with a strong background in parent support—especially if you’re seeking help for a particular challenge like toddler tantrums, school refusal, sibling conflict, or parenting through divorce. Some coaches specialize in specific areas like behavioral support for families, while others have broader expertise in communication, routines, or transitions.
Other experience worth considering if relevant to your family, includes experience with:
- Neurodivergent children (including autism or ADHD).
- Single-parent households.
Blended families or co-parenting. - Emotional regulation strategies for kids and teens.
The right coach doesn’t need to have all the answers—they need to know how to help you uncover what works best for your family.
Fit with Your Parenting Style
Do they believe in positive parenting strategies? Are they aligned with your values when it comes to discipline, structure, or emotional expression? Do they understand the unique dynamics of your household?
Finding a coach who shares (or at least respects) your parenting philosophy matters. The goal isn’t to change who you are as a parent—it’s to support you in becoming a calmer, more confident version of yourself.
If you lean gentle parenting, want to build firmer boundaries, or are just trying to create a more peaceful home, your coach should meet you there—not try to pull you in a completely different direction.
The Right Vibe (Yes! That Matters)
Sometimes, the best way to know if a coach is right for you is… you just feel it. You want someone who makes you feel seen, heard, and never judged. Someone who gets that parenting isn’t one-size-fits-all and who can roll with your real-life mess without flinching. That kind of connection creates the foundation for honest conversations, personalized support, and real progress.
If you walk away from your first call thinking, “This person gets it—and they get me,” you’re on the right track.
Still Wondering How to Choose a Parent Coach?
Here’s a quick checklist to help you decide:
- Do they have relevant experience with my parenting concerns?
- Do their approaches align with my values and goals?
- Do I feel respected and supported when we talk?
- Are they offering strategies that feel doable in my daily life?
If the answer is yes to the above, you’ve likely found someone who can help you move from uncertainty to action.
What to Expect When Working with a Parent Coach at Poppins
At Poppins, parent coaching is designed to feel supportive, personalized, and totally doable—even in the middle of a chaotic week.
It starts with a short intake questionnaire where you’ll share what you’d like to focus on—whether it’s toddler tantrums, bedtime battles, sibling rivalry, or just getting a better handle on family routines. Your responses help us match you with the right coach, based on your goals and parenting style.
Next, you’ll meet your coach for a live 1:1 video call. During the session, you’ll talk through current challenges and explore real-time solutions together. Your coach will ask helpful, compassionate questions to uncover potential causes behind the challenges and suggest practical parenting strategies that align with your preferences—not a one-size-fits-all approach. They’ll adjust the plan based on what’s realistic for your family, not what looks good in a parenting book.
After your call, you’ll receive a clear, written action plan to guide you—something you can actually refer back to during tough moments. You’ll also get on-demand text-based support from your coach throughout the week, so you’re not left hanging when new questions or challenges pop up (because, let’s be honest—they always do).
Poppins parent coaching isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. You’ll have a trusted partner to help you feel more confident, more in control, and more connected to your child—one strategy (and deep breath) at a time.
At Poppins, parent coaching is designed to feel supportive, personalized, and totally doable—even in the middle of a chaotic week.
Real-Life Parent Win: Building Bonds from a Distance
A toddler mom and Poppins’ client (we’ll call her Melissa), found herself feeling unexpectedly stressed about one specific thing: her child’s relationship with her out-of-state grandparents. She wasn’t close with her own grandparents growing up, and she wanted something different for her daughter—a stronger family connection, even from afar.
“I knew I wanted her to have a special relationship with her grandparents,” Melissa said, “but I didn’t know how to actually make that happen when they’re hundreds of miles away.”
Enter her Poppins parent coach, who helped her turn that low-level, nagging worry into a simple, joyful routine.
Together, they came up with two easy strategies:
- Weekly virtual book reads with Grandma and Grandpa—low-pressure, screen-based bonding that’s interactive and familiar.
- A custom-made photo book with family faces, paired with simple, interactive narratives: “Here’s Grandpa. Grandpa is waving. Can you wave back?”
It was playful, developmentally appropriate, and something Melissa could actually implement without adding to her mental load. “I got off the call so excited,” she said. “It wasn’t a major stressor, but it was one more thing I didn’t have a plan for—and now I do.”
Melissa’s daughter is now smiling and waving when her grandparents pop up on screen, and when they visit in person, she lights up with recognition. The best part? Her parent coach checks in regularly, helping her adapt the plan as her kiddo grows and their long-distance bond deepens.
This is what parent coaching for connection and behavior development looks like: small, meaningful changes that reduce stress, strengthen relationships, and help parents feel like they’ve got this—even when they’re juggling a lot.
Other Parent Coaching FAQs, Answered
Still wondering whether parent coaching is the right fit for your family? You’re not alone. Many parents reach out looking for behavioral support, parenting help with defiance, or guidance through emotional or developmental challenges.
Below, we tackle the most common questions about what parent coaching can do—and how it can bring more calm and connection to your home.
What Kind of Behavior Problems Can a Parent Coach Help With?
A parent coach can support a wide range of behavior concerns, including:
- Frequent tantrums.
- Defiance and power struggles.
- Sibling conflict and rivalry.
- Sleep resistance and bedtime refusal.
- Homework meltdowns.
- Potty training regression.
- Screen time battles.
This kind of behavioral support for children goes beyond quick fixes. A parent coach helps you understand the why behind the behavior and teaches you consistent, age-appropriate strategies to manage it. You’ll get custom tools based on your child’s temperament and your parenting style—no judgment, no gimmicks, just what works.
Is Parent Coaching Effective for Toddler Tantrums?
Yes—and it’s one of the most common reasons parents seek help. Big emotions in small kids are part of normal development, but parenting help with tantrums is about teaching both parents and kids how to handle those moments without daily meltdowns.
A parent coach helps you:
- Recognize triggers and patterns.
- Implement emotional regulation strategies that actually work.
- Set clear boundaries that your child understands and respects.
- Build routines that reduce stress and increase cooperation.
If you're stuck in a loop of yelling, bribing, or giving up, parent coaching gives you a reset—one that works in real life.
Can Parent Coaching Help with ADHD, Child Anxiety, or School Issues?
Definitely. While parent coaching is not a replacement for medical or mental health care, it can be a powerful complement for families navigating:
- ADHD: Support with focus routines, time management, and consistent discipline.
- Anxiety: Tools for recognizing anxiety-driven behaviors and building coping skills.
- School-related challenges: From academic stress to behavior problems in the classroom.
- Parent coaching provides ADHD support for parents who feel overwhelmed and gives families of anxious children strategies that support emotional well-being and structure at home. Coaches can also help you communicate with teachers and schools so your child’s needs are understood and met.
Can Parent Coaching Help If I Have a Child on the Spectrum?
Yes. Parent coaching can be incredibly helpful for families raising children with autism, even though it’s not a clinical or diagnostic service. At Poppins, our coaches offer practical, compassionate support that helps you navigate everyday parenting while honoring your child’s unique needs.
You might work with your coach to:
- Establish autism parenting strategies for daily routines, transitions, and sensory sensitivities.
- Create structure around mealtimes, sleep, or social situations.
- Improve communication and reduce behavior-related stress at home.
- Understand how to support emotional regulation and coping skills.
- Set realistic, developmentally appropriate expectations that work for your child.
But support doesn’t stop there. A parent coach can also help you care for yourself—managing your mental load, identifying stress triggers, and building routines that support your own well-being. And if your child has siblings, a coach can help you navigate those relationships too—offering guidance on how to:
- Talk to siblings about autism in an age-appropriate, respectful way.
- Prevent resentment or confusion from building up.
- Foster empathy, patience, and connection between siblings.
Think of it as family-centered coaching for autism—focused not just on your neurodivergent child, but on the family ecosystem that surrounds them. The goal is to help you feel more confident, capable, and connected, even during the most challenging seasons.
Final Thoughts: Should You Try Parent Coaching for Your Family?
Whether you’re navigating tantrums, transitions, or just trying to feel less overwhelmed by the mental load, parent coaching can help you move from surviving to actually feeling like you’ve got this. With the right support, the challenges that once felt exhausting become manageable—and even meaningful.
You don’t need to have a “big” problem to benefit from coaching. In fact, many people don’t—but they often do have dozens of little nagging problems that have piled up. And the collective weight of those problems? It’s a lot.
That’s where Poppins parent coaches come in with action-oriented solutions to help you feel a little lighter, a little calmer, and a lot more confident.
Sign up today and start turning parenting stress into practical support that works for you.
