After a divorce, your children have to adjust to a new way of life. Those first custody visits may be stressful and your children may encounter a lot of nervousness. Fortunately, Very Well Family has a few tips on how to ease your child’s stress during the transition.
First, make sure that you and your former spouse are on the same page as far as the visitation is concerned. You need to plan all of the small details, particularly details that will be the most important to your children.
Your children may feel empowered if you allow them to make some of the choices. On the day before visitation, allow your children to choose which clothes they want to bring or which video games they want to take along to their other parent’s house. When it comes to giving your children choices, do not make them choose between comfort items. For instance, if one of your children has a favorite toy and a favorite blanket, allow him or her to take both. Before your children leave, make sure that they do not forget anything. It may be a crisis when they arrive at the other parent’s house without their favorite treasure.
In addition to allowing them to be a part of the preparation, try to engage your children in conversation about the visitation. Ask them what they are most excited about and what they plan to do with their other parent. If they have any concerns, you can address those too. Even if you are feeling anxious or worried about the trip, make sure that you do not put those anxieties on your children.
