After your divorce, you may worry that you might not bond with your young children if you only share partial custody with your ex-spouse. A recent report by the U.S. News notes that most states receive poor reports related to how much time divorced parents spend with their children and that those who receive unequal attention are more likely to develop behavioral and mental problems.
If you are a non-custodial parent who worries about how to bond with your young children, there are a few strategies that may enrich the time you spend together, no matter what your visitation schedule looks like.
Remain proactive
If you have regular visitation with your children, show up on time and show an active interest in planning activities with them. If your child custody decree allows phone and internet contact with your children on days you will not see them, discuss plans and let your child know how much you are looking forward to spending time with him or her.
Practice consistency
Bonding with children, especially those that are too young to understand the concept of divorce, can present a challenge to you as a non-custodial parent. However, remaining committed to visitation may help your child learn that the time you spend together is special. While you might have the occasional emergency, giving priority to your visitation time can enhance the bond between you and your child.
One-third of states do not practice equal parenting time for divorced couples. While new laws regarding shared parenting are improving, taking action as a non-custodial parent can ensure that you forge a meaningful bond with your children.