Many parents live separately and are positively involved in their child's life. It's important for children to have a relationship with both of their parents, as much as possible.
What you can do
Things you can do include:
- support and encourage your child to keep in contact with their parent
- share copies of school reports - both parents should be aware of their child’s progress and development
- tell the other parent about events like school plays, parent and teacher meetings, and other activities that parents are expected to attend
- keep your child's parent informed of any medical issues or issues at school
- have consistent rules for your child for things such as mealtimes, bedtimes, homework, treats, acceptable behaviour - this will avoid any negative effects on your child's behaviour caused by moving between parents’ homes
Make your child feel at home
It is important that your child feels that they belong in both homes and that they are not just visiting.
Some simple things can help make your child feel at home:
- involve them in decorating their room
- make space for them
- give them a place for their toothbrush and a drawer for their belongings
- make sure they have their own special things with them such as a special blanket or toys