Children thrive on consistency and predictability, so it is crucial for both parents to maintain stable routines in both households after a divorce. Not knowing what to expect can create a lot of anxiety for children, causing them to act out or perform poorly in school. Help your children cope with the changes brought on by your divorce by setting aside your anger or hurt feelings, so you can establish a consistent routine in both homes.
Here are some of the biggest reasons why it is crucial to establish and maintain consistent routines after going through a divorce:
- It makes children feel secure: A divorce can make your children feel like the world has gone and turned upside down on them. Therefore, now more than ever, it is important to help your children feel secure despite the changes your family has undergone. They need to believe that, regardless of these changes, they can always rely on a consistent routine that will always serve as your family’s anchor. No one can prevent change entirely, but setting a set schedule for things like homework, dinner, and bedtime can provide a sense of structure that will help them feel safe.
- It teaches them good habits: Structured, reliable routines not only help children feel secure, but they also help them develop good habits. It can also teach them to manage their time to accommodate these expectations. For example, if your children are expected to brush their teeth and go to bed at the same time every night, they will know to manage their time earlier in the evening well enough to ensure they meet these expectations.
- It helps ease stress: Without a sense of security, your children will feel a sense of fear toward the future. They will not know what to expect in their day-to-day routine, which will create a lot of stress. In children, stress can manifest into a variety of bad behaviors, including poor impulse control, the inability to problem-solve, and an absence of empathy.
Not sure how to create consistent routines with your co-parent? Arrange a time for the two of you to sit down and have a discussion about a routine you can both agree on and enforce. Consider discussing consequences, rewards, and how you plan on communicating the rules to your children. If you foresee any issues arising with this routine, discuss how you plan to overcome them and what you are willing to change. Initially, you might have to undergo some trial and error in fine-tuning your routines, but the important part is that your children’s routines remain consistent across both households.
Speak to an Experienced Child Custody Attorney Today!
If you are in the middle of a child custody dispute or experiencing problems with your current arrangement, speak to a child custody attorney to discuss your case. At Casey, Simmons & Bryant, PLLC, our team is backed by the experience and knowledge necessary to effectively handle such cases. You do not have to go through this on your own.
Contact our law office today at (731) 256-0023 to request a case review with a compassionate member of our legal team.