It can seem that once Halloween has come and gone, the rest of the calendar year flies by in the blink of an eye. Divorced or separated parents in Indiana might feel this even more than parents who are married because they are forced to squeeze in special holiday time and events with their kids in a fraction of the amount of time they had when they were married to the other parent. Despite this challenge, it is possible to create joy for all at this time of year with a little proactivity and consciousness.
Psychology Today advocates that parents should make an effort to coordinate ahead of time on when the kids will be with each person and also what activities will happen when. Knowing what the other parent is going to do with the kids can allow a person to make plans that don’t end up overwhelming the children by leaving them without downtime, which can be so important especially for younger kids or children who have sensory challenges.
When planning a holiday schedule, parents should also include other relatives such as grandparents, aunts and uncles. Once a plan is in place, it can be shared with the children so they know what to expect when. This provides them with a sense of stability and security.
2Houses, a site that facilitates positive coparenting, encourages parents to collaborate on gifts to avoid any power struggles or competitions. Equally important is that kids are not asked to choose which parent to spend the holiday with. This is a decision for the adults to make.
