Decades ago, parents and children who didn’t live near each other had limited options for staying in touch. Long-distance phone calls were often costly, and travel was difficult because of scheduling. Times have changed since then. Parents and children now have a variety of options to stay in touch in real time, even if they’re thousands of miles apart.
Parenting plans can include terms for virtual visitation, which uses technology to help the parent and child to continue to build and maintain a good relationship despite the distance. Video chats, instant messages, texts and emails are some of the options that might be included in a virtual visitation plan. Making the most of these visits can take some work, but it’s possible.
Treat the time like a normal visit
The parent and child both have to make the virtual visit time a priority. If they live in different time zones, the visits should be scheduled based on what’s best for the children, even if that means the parent has to awaken in the middle of the night or have the visit at an inconvenient time.
Find activities to enjoy together
Virtual visits don’t have to be limited to just talking. Instead, other activities, such as reading a book, playing a game or doing homework together, are also possible. It may take trial and error to figure out what works, but it will likely be worth the effort.
Including terms in the parenting plan that make it clear how these visits are to be handled is critical. The parent and child should have the same privacy and freedom to bond as they would in person. It’s also important that these visits never be used as replacements for in-person visits, but instead as a bridge from one in-person visit to the next.
