We hear so often from our caregivers, the struggle their families experience regarding parenting time/visitation. As a kinship caregiver, there is an extra layer of complication when it comes to this because they usually have some other relation to the parents too. This puts them in a situation where they have to be the enforcer of rules or boundaries on both sides and this can be very uncomfortable. Many caregivers report that their kinship children experience higher rates of behaviors, isolation, or depression during and after this parenting time. Many times, the parents lack stability and consistency which is very hard for children. Children who have experienced trauma need to be able to have consistent and predictable schedules. This often times does not happen. We wanted to give you all some tips when dealing with parenting time and your kinship children’s biological parents. As well as highlight Beth Tyson’s new book, Sullivan Goes to See Mama: A Book to Help Families Navigate Supervised Visits. She does an amazing job of normalizing a child’s situation for them and is age appropriate. Please check out her book and let us know, if we can guide you further through your parenting time/visitation journey. Here are some tips on how to help your kinship child through their journey.
Be Honest- Help them know what is going on, in age appropriate terms. Their mom/dad might not show up and this is why.
Plan- Help them know when the visit is going to happen and where. This predictability can be key for them.
Give them Choices- You may not have all the control when it comes to parenting time/visitation but if you can, if the child some choices. Where do they want it to be? What could make them feel more comfortable.
Debrief together and continue to have open communication. Every story is different and you may be experiencing something you need help navigating, we are here for you through this process. Please reach out!
