Many aspects of a child’s life change when their parents aren’t romantically involved any longer. One of these is that they may have to move back and forth between two homes. Those days when they move from one parent to the other can be stressful for the kids.
It’s up to the parents to find ways to make these days as easy as possible for the children. There are several options the parents might be able to accomplish this. Consider these points as you’re planning transition days.
Avoid contentious discussions
The time when you and your ex meet to exchange the children isn’t an opportunity to discuss contentious matters. Instead, these times should be calm so the children don’t have to worry about arguments. Anything you and your ex have to discuss can be handled at a time when the children aren’t around.
Help the children prepare
If your children are younger, you may need to help them prepare for the transition days so they don’t come up unexpectedly. Older children may be able to keep track of this on their own. When you work to prepare them, be sure to make the transition day a positive experience.
Transition days are only one of the things you should consider when you’re creating a parenting plan. Make sure you have an outline of important decisions, such as the parenting time schedule and decision-making powers. Working with someone familiar with these cases is beneficial since they can offer guidance about what should be included and how to word it in the document.
