The effect that divorce has on children could begin as soon as one spouse moves out of the family’s home. Some separated spouses, however, have turned to social media and a split-living arrangement known as “birdnesting.” Under the right circumstances, either or both of these approaches may help kids adjust to their new lifestyle.
Couples may decide to use birdnesting as a way to ease the pain children may experience while adjusting to living with only one parent. As reported by NBC News, separated spouses can rotate staying with children at their familial home to reduce the trauma of divorce.
The arrangement allows children to remain at home while each spouse takes turns staying at a separate residence. Slowly transitioning children into a split-living arrangement helps reduce confusion. They may find it easier to adjust to living with a custodial parent and having a visitation schedule with the other at his or her own residence.
Staying in constant communication through mobile devices gives children a sense of connection with an absent parent. According to research published by the Journal of Family Issues, children who remained connected with their parents handled a divorce better. By keeping in contact through social media and texting, the parent-child relationship continued.
How well children adjusted to a new living arrangement relied on the frequency of parental communications. As reported by United Press International, a divorce did not have a severe effect on children when they could use mobile devices to stay connected with a missing parent. Building bonds through frequent social media updates, videos or texting shows kids that an absent parent cares about them.
Remaining in regular contact strengthens the parent-child relationship. A shared parenting agreement may include open communication so that ex-spouses could avoid each other, but still stay in contact with their kids.