Parallel parenting is one of the options available to parents going through divorce who want to provide as much support as possible to their children.
What is this option, though? How does it benefit both parents and children? And how does it ultimately work in real-life situations?
The benefits for children
Psychology Today takes a look at the inner workings of parallel parenting. This option essentially allows parents to give their children the benefit of a joint parenting situation while also avoiding coming into direct contact with the co-parent.
This provides stability to the child by having both parents deeply involved in their life. Many experts agree that this is one of the best things to give a child of divorce, as the lack of stability and concerns about their parent’s feelings toward them can often cause the most emotional damage.
How it works for parents
At the same time, it allows parents to avoid interacting with each other by limiting the type of interaction they can have. Under parallel parenting, the co-parents can only communicate via text or written word. They cannot have in-person meetings, nor can they speak on the phone or through video chat. They can, however, choose the form of writing they wish to communicate with, such as through emails, text messages or even written letters.
This gives parents the chance to get some space from one another, which is often a crucial part of the recovery process. At the same time, it helps prevent arguments because parents must think before they type rather than simply blurting out the first thing that comes to mind. It serves as a benefit to all involved parties this way.
