One part of divorce that can be challenging for children is simply that their home life has to change. In a lot of cases, this means they physically have to live in a new home. If their parents share custody, then they have to move back and forth between two different homes.
All of this can cause the children to feel like their lives have become very unstable. Here are some things you can do to help provide that stability for them, as it is very helpful for their development.
Focus on establishing routines
If your child has any routines already, try to maintain them as closely as you can. This could include simple things like when they go to bed at night or when they go to school. If possible, try to create new routines to make things go smoothly.
Allow them to put their own touch on the home
The children may not live with you full time, but you want the house to feel like home for them. One way to do this is by letting them decorate and put their own touch on it. You may also want to consider allowing them to choose their bedroom or things of this nature.
Work on co-parenting and communication
Another thing that can be beneficial is focusing on being co-parents. No matter how you and your ex feel about each other, you need to work hard to get along in this capacity. It can help to do things like setting up joint rules for both houses so that the children know what is expected of them.
As you work your way through this new part of your life, be sure that you are also well aware of your legal options. If custody issues become a problem, it may be time to revisit your parenting plan.
