Florida parents who are going through a divorce may have concerns about losing their relationship with their child. Even for parents that have joint custody, the time spent with a child may be substantially less compared to during the marriage. Fortunately, there are many things each parent can do to strengthen the connection, even when the child is not in their physical custody.
According to Psychology Today, 80% of children adjust to the new living situation with no long-term negative effects. Studies show that children who adapt the best do not need their parents to be living in the same house, but they do have strong relationships with both of them. In addition to providing basic resources and showing emotional stability, there are numerous things parents can do to improve the relationship with their children.
According to PsychCentral, involvement in school and extracurricular activities is very beneficial. Some examples of this include:
- Discussing academic success and struggles with teachers
- Reading books or helping with schoolwork
- Coaching a sports team
- Volunteering in classroom or for school trips
- Attending child’s music recital
- Leading group activities
Children and parents also benefit from sharing interests and hobbies. This helps children adjust to a parent’s absence, and it builds leadership skills, memories and better self-esteem.
It also is a good idea to travel with children. They can explore new things and build lasting memories. It also gives everyone the chance to relax and talk outside of normal life. When kids are old enough, invite them to help plan details of the trip, which further improves connection.
