Importance of

Healthy CoParenting
Relationships

Bryana Farrington

Introduction
My presentation is on the importance of healthy co-parenting
relationships
My audience is separated and divorced parents lacking healthy
co-parenting environment. And couples that are still together.

What is Co-Parenting?
The joint effort of single parents sharing their resources and
responsibilities to raise a child in the case of separation or
divorce.
Adults who significantly support parents in the parenting role or
may take over the parenting role all together for parents who
are unable to for whatever reason.
The book defines it as an enterprise undertaken by two or more
adults who together take on the care and upbringing of children
for whom they share responsibility.

The Importance of Healthy Coparenting

Co-parenting can have either a positive or negative

affect on a family.

Parents must remember how their actions may

inadvertently affect the child.

Dysfunction with the parents corrupts the unit.

Creating and Respecting

Boundaries
To reduce conflict the boundaries
created must be respected by
both parents
Redefining these boundaries
helps reduce tension between
families through time
The parents have to recognize
they are a team and create a
solid unit not even the child can
break
I.e. not undermining one anothers
authority.

Co-parenting after Divorce or

Separation
Through separation and
divorce parents still have to
interact with each other
when co-parenting.
After divorce parents must
implement rules and
boundaries.
For a healthy co-parenting
relationship to work they
must be able to now relate
as parents and not
partners.

Co-parenting after Divorce or

Separation (cont.)
There must be a clear separation between spousal and
parenting relations.
When those roles overlap it can cause conflict
The boundaries set in place early on after separation will
determine how healthy or unhealthy the co-parenting
relationship may be.

Co-parenting for Married

Couples
As you already know you dont
have to be separated to be in a
co-parenting relationship.
When both spouses are
involved in their child(ren)
upbringing they are actively
co-parenting.
The book on Family Relations
stated that couples can either
be adversaries or partners
when co-parenting.

They also state the importance of fostering healthy

child development based on their interactions with
each other and the child.
When stress arises its important not to take it out
on each other.

How Healthy Co-parenting

Affects Children
How adults resolve conflict
plays apart in the well
being child.
Heathy resolutions to
problems help the family as
a whole when future
problems arise.
Children learn from the
interaction of their parents
how to resolve their own
conflicts.

Studies showed that a healthy co-parenting alliance

pre and post divorce is important for children

Researchers stated adolescents that felt caught in

the middle of their parents conflict were more
hostile and did not adjust well post divorce.

Conclusion
Co-parenting in a marriage, through separation, or divorce the
children should be the primary focus.
If parents are unable to co-parent in a healthy matter for the
child(ren) professional help would be the next step.
The childrens communication and social skills are a reflection of
their parents and what goes on within their household.

Work Cited
Vollmer, I. (2008). Parenting Through Separation and Divorce. Transition, 11-14.
Lindsey, E. W., Caldera, Y., & Colwell, M.. (2005). Correlates of Coparenting During Infancy.
Family Relations, 54(3), 346359. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40005289
Stright, A. D., & Bales, S. S.. (2003). Coparenting Quality: Contributions of Child and Parent
Characteristics. Family Relations, 52(3), 232240. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/3700274
Gable, S., Crnic, K., & Belsky, J.. (1994). Coparenting within the Family System: Influences on
Children's Development. Family Relations, 43(4), 380386. http://doi.org/10.2307/585368
Hardesty, J. L., Khaw, L., Chung, G. H., & Martin, J. M.. (2008). Coparenting Relationships
after Divorce: Variations by Type of Marital Violence and Fathers' Role Differentiation. Family
Relations, 57(4), 479491. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20456812