If you and your child’s other parent have decided to go your separate ways, you are likely concerned about maintaining strong bonds with your child while they’re spending time with your co-parent. As a result, you may want to consider adding virtual visitation terms to your parenting plan.
Virtual visitation primarily refers to electronic communication methods but this concept encompasses non-electronic means of communicating too. For example, you could set up an arrangement whereby your child and you (or their other parent when your child is residing with you) can communicate via:
- Text
- Phone calls
- Video chat
- Social media
- Cloud-based sharing platforms
- Audio recording
- Postal mail
You could even set up a time each week to play long-distance video games with your child or to watch movies via video share.
Being thoughtful about the terms
You will want to consider your child’s age, attention span and the business of their schedule before committing to a particular arrangement. You’ll also want to make sure that both you and your co-parent are well-positioned to facilitate a particular set-up as well. For example, scheduling phone calls on Tuesday nights when your co-parent traditionally takes your child to swim lessons and then out for a meal would probably not be the most workable arrangement unless compromises are made.
By carefully considering how your co-parenting relationship will operate, your child’s unique needs and the amount of time that they get to spend in the physical presence of each parent, you can make informed decisions about the issue of virtual visitation. With that said, you can certainly seek legal guidance at any time should you have questions about this potential addition to your parenting plan.
