Divorce Parenting and Child Assessment
The pain of divorce, understandably, is a difficult experience for anyone. But fighting between divorcing parents should be avoided at all costs. Divorce litigation, however, can encourage conflict between family members, and it may even lead to parental alienation. Consider, then, the effects of divorce on children – a child needs to know that he/she can depend on his parents to make the right decisions for them. With battling parents, who will help this child? Custody and other lawyers are professionally trained to advocate for their client or administer a legal separation; but typically, they are not equipped to service the special needs of a child of divorce.
Divorce Parenting through Mediation:
Divorce Mediation is a co-operative resolution process. Make it work for you and for your children. While standard issues such as child support, alimony and visitation rights are important, you can work together via a neutral party to develop a practical Parenting Plan for your children as well.
Structure will be important for your plan. Map out a weekly time-sharing schedule and ensure that quality time is allotted fairly to both parents. The purpose of parenting plans is to convey togetherness and elicit a greater feeling of unity to a child who is struggling with the effects of divorce.
Child Assessment for Divorce Mediation:
How can one settle on a proper amount of quality time? Conduct a formal child assessment to identify your child’s social needs and concerns. Children of divorce now more than ever need to maintain bonds with relatives from both sides of the family – especially with their parents.
You can hire a child therapist to assess your children. But whether or not you choose to do so, give Earthquake in Zipland a try.
Zipland is the first computer therapy game dedicated to rebuilding communication between a child and his/her divorced parents. Zipland opens the way to direct dialogue, making it a valuable tool for divorce mediation and child custody assessment.
Sources:
http://cfcj-fcjc.org/clearinghouse/drpapers/children.htm
http://www.saccourt.com/family/mediation/mediation.asp
http://www.mediate.com/divorce/pg74.cfm
http://www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/divorce/custody.html
https://www.ziplandinteractive.com/a-good-choice-collaborative-divorce/
