Children are still learning about their place in the world and how they fit in. Something like divorce can make them question this or feel like they are being subjected to unexpected events outside of their control.

As a parent, one way that you can counter this is by focusing on stability after the divorce has concluded. Ideally, your co-parent will want to do the same thing. What are some steps that you can take to create this stability for your kids?

Set up a routine

One thing that is very important is to honor any routines that the child already has. You may also want to create new routines and patterns. These can be as simple as when children go to school or when they go to bed. These routines make them feel comforted and like they understand how the world is going to work.

Communicate with them

It can also be helpful simply to tell children about what is happening, when it is happening and why it is happening. The more they know about their schedule and how it's going to impact them, the less stressful everything will feel. This is important when they're adjusting to a new co-parenting schedule where they live in two different places.

Make the homes similar 

If your child is living in two homes because you share custody, it can also help to make things as similar as possible. This may mean having duplicates of favorite books, toys, clothing or other items. You simply want the child to feel content and at home no matter where they are living.

These are just a few things to think about as you look into your legal options and your custody rights.