I know many families may consider this costly, but what is the emotional cost a child pays if parents fight over missing socks or lost toys. An alternative strategy is to have one set of transitional clothes, toys, and personal items that go back and forth with the child. Everything else stays at the respective parent s homes. Regulate telephone use. Although children should be allowed to contact their parents by phone whenever they need to, some discretion may be necessary.
Parents get anxious when they hear a child crying over the phone or asking to come home early.
Imaginations go wild and tempers flair. Set a regular schedule for the child to call on a daily basis when both parents are there is no interruptions in dinner, bath, or homework times. The child needs to have privacy during his or her call unless written otherwise in the divorce agreement. Never force a child to talk, but always encourage him or her to call the other parent, even if it is for just a minute or two. If the child refuses, log it as described in number 3 above.