Britney slammed for chaotic parenting

By Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop singer Britney Spears barely played or spoke with her two young sons during a court-ordered visit by a parenting coach, who said their home life "ranged from chaotic to almost sombre with little communication at all."

According to court documents released on Tuesday, in which Spears failed to regain joint custody, the parenting coach said Spears clearly loved Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

But the coach said Spears "rarely engaged with the children in conversation or play" and said the boys had no real schedule or routine.

"It seems that her choices are dependent more upon what she (Spears) wants to do at any given time rather than what would be more enjoyable for the children," the parenting coach said in her report.

Spears, 25, lost custody of the boys to her ex-husband Kevin Federline on October 1 after she failed to comply with court-ordered drug and alcohol testing. The couple have been fighting over visitation arrangements ever since.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon ruled on Tuesday that Spears can visit her sons three times a week with a monitor and must submit to drug and alcohol testing twice a week.

Spears was also told to child-proof the pool at her home. A full evaluation is expected in mid-January.

Gordon's ruling came on the day Spears released her first full studio album in four years. "Blackout" met with generally warm reviews and her new single "Gimme More" is playing strongly on radio and digital download charts.