An Advocate In Family Law Cases

How to talk to your child about custody

On Behalf of | Oct 16, 2024 | Child Custody & Support

When going through a divorce with a child, custody is one of the topics you need to discuss. Your child should understand how they will be moving between the two homes.

But how do you explain custody to your child without overwhelming them?

Use visuals

Children understand information presented with visuals quicker, as they can see what’s being explained. Therefore, consider marking the days your child will be with you and those with the other parent in different colors on a calendar. 

You can use the calendar in your home or a digital one. You can also create one by writing down the days of the week and marking them accordingly.

After you have explained the calendar to your child, ask them to mark when they will be with you or the other parent as an exercise.

Define terms

Help your child understand the terms they may be hearing during your initial conversation and going forward. These include custody, custodial parent, non-custodial parent, visitation, virtual visitation and exchange days.

Use simple words and examples when explaining these terms.

Explain what will change

Your child needs to know what will change to be prepared. Explain to them the family might look different, but you are still a family. They may need to go to the other parent’s house from school on certain days, you may need to pick them up at a restaurant during exchange days and so forth.

Discuss what will not change

Giving more attention to what will not change can make your child feel more comfortable. Inform them they belong to both homes, they are loved by both parents who enjoy spending time with them, their daily routines can be maintained and so on.

Talking to your child about custody is necessary. However, don’t overwhelm them with information. Take it one step at a time. Get more information about child custody to ensure your child continues enjoying their life.