• It's important your child understands she has done nothing wrong and it's not her fault that the court ordered supervised visitation.  It's usually helpful for your child to understand the reason for and purpose of the supervised visitations.  Informing your child helps her feel more secure.

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• Maintain a positive attitude about the visitation.  Your child has a seemingly “supernatural” ability to sense how you're feeling about a situation and often will reflect, or “mirror” that same attitude.  

 

• Explain to your child that the Monitor is not there to be involved in the activities of the visit but to only observe and record the visit, ensuring everyone is safe.

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• Use the time with your child to strengthen a healthy relationship for the future.

 

• Be consistent with attending scheduled visits with your child. Being consistent demonstrates your love and commitment to her.

 

A Productive Visit

 

• Plan activities and bring games and books that you know will be of interest to your child.  Your local library often has free resources.  Try to plan enough activities that are appropriate for the length of your visit, but not too many that you feel rushed or have to interrupt before finishing a fun activity at the end.

 

• Take some time to have important conversations about school and friends or even help them with their homework.

 

• Try not to put too much pressure on yourself and your child to have a “perfect” or “successful” visit.  Enjoy being “in the moment” and concentrate on the present, not the past – relax, enjoy, and have fun.

 

• Be attentive to your child’s needs and feelings and fully engage and participate.