It’s natural for divorcing parents to worry about the impact the transition will have on their children. While all parties involved will need time to adjust to the new child custody arrangement, the kids may take it a little harder. Fortunately, there are ways parents can ease the transition from sharing one home to living in two. By following these tips, you can provide your children with some sense of stability during divorce proceedings.

How Divorcing Parents Can Maintain Normalcy for the Kids

1. Stick to a Schedule 

Try to keep your children enrolled in the same school, and allow them to continue participating in the same extracurricular activities. If this is not possible, devise a new schedule as soon as possible, and stick to it. Children crave predictability, and they are more likely to thrive—and less likely to stress about the transition—when they have a routine to follow. 

2. Get on the Same Page

If the rules at Mom’s are different from the rules at Dad’s, it can cause considerable frustration for the kids. They need stability, and knowing that both parents have the same expectations of them will help provide it. You and your ex should also impose the same consequences—and respect each other’s punishments—when your children do not follow the rules. 

3. Maintain Close Ties With Extended Family

If your children saw their cousins fairly often before the divorce, make an effort to maintain those bonds after—even if they happen to be your in-laws. Seeing your ex’s family may be hard at first, but it’s important that your kids continue fostering the relationships that mean the most to them. If you are awarded primary child custody, it will mostly be up to you to maintain those ties. 

For help resolving complicated family law disputes, turn to Rutherford Law Office. Whether you’re facing a contentious child custody battle or struggling to divide assets, you can turn to them for help navigating the proceedings. Located in Chillicothe, OH, this locally owned and operated firm has been representing client throughout Ross County for the past 20 years. To learn more about their seasoned attorneys, visit their website. To schedule a consultation and discuss your child custody situation, call (740) 775-7434.