When people get divorced, one party moves away from the other party. While this isn’t a problem when there aren’t children involved, it can be challenging when the two people share children.
When one parent moves too far for in-person visits to happen on a frequent basis, they may look for other ways to help connect with their children. One option for doing this is virtual visitation, which uses electronic means to communicate.
How do virtual visits work?
Virtual visits use things like video calls or messaging for the parent to communicate with the child. There are many different possibilities for what they can do during these visits. Some parents may read bedtime stories, while others may help with homework. It’s up to the child and the parent to decide what works for them.
One thing that can make virtual visits challenging is when there are time zone differences. In this case, the visit should be planned based on the child’s schedule, even if it’s a little inconvenient for the other parent.
How do virtual visits benefit parents and children?
Virtual visits don’t replace in-person parenting time, but they can bridge the gap between those in-person visits. For children, maintaining frequent contact with both parents provides stability and can reduce feelings of distance. These visits allow the children to share their everyday experiences with both parents, instead of only being able to contact one parent during holiday visits or school breaks.
The terms of the virtual visits may be included in the parenting plan. This can outline various points, such as the privacy the child and parent will have during the visits, as well as the times when the visits will occur. Working with someone who understands virtual visits may be beneficial, so they can help you to come up with the terms as you set the parenting plan.