The Importance of Hobbies & Sports for Kids Post-Divorce

Even in amicable situations, divorce can still be a traumatic time for children. Your child is likely to feel a variety of emotions, including fear due to uncertainty. As their life changes drastically, it’s often unclear what it is changing into. This is why hobbies and sports for kids post-divorce are helpful for getting them through the difficult process.

Why Are Hobbie and Sports for Kids Post-Divorce So Important?

Because you love your child and care about their well-being, you want to do whatever you can to mitigate their fear. That’s where hobbies and sports come in. It’s important to encourage your child to participate in hobbies and sports in order to give them a sense of normalcy as well as an outlet to express themselves, post-divorce.

During and after a divorce, issues surrounding custody and parenting time can hinder opportunities for special bonding moments between you and your child. These moments and the memories that result from them are essential for your child’s happiness and development, yet they often take a backseat to bickering and ongoing animosity.

Children of divorce are frequently pulled in various directions and forced to split their time. Hobbies and sports are stable activities they can do in both households as they adjust to their new life. Studies show that participation in such activities boosts academic performance and better prepares them for the future.

In order to provide this type of stability for your child, post-divorce, it’s helpful to have a plan in place. From knowing how creating a routine is good for custody cases to sports safety tips and choosing which new hobbies to try together, there’s a lot to consider when making a post-divorce plan that benefits your child.  

How Creating a Routine is Good for Custody Cases

While your primary focus should be on your kid’s health and happiness, it’s worthwhile to note that creating a routine could help you in your custody case. Family attorneys, judges, and custody evaluators agree that one of the most common disputes between separated parents is the kids’ activities.

When you can demonstrate that you have established regular routines for your child, it is likely to strengthen any outstanding child custody cases. Judges and custody evaluators recognize that sports team schedules and other hobbies provide structure for children post-divorce. Enrolling them in activities and supporting their participation are evidence that you can create a stable environment for them.

If you haven’t yet, you and your former partner will most likely need to work together on a parenting plan. Together, your goal should be to establish a parenting plan that 1) provides consistency so your child can feel secure and 2) is flexible enough to accommodate future changes that will certainly arise.

Inevitably, disagreements will occur. However, if both parents agreed at some point that a child can participate in an activity and he or she enjoys it, then you and your former partner should set aside your difference and strive to support your child’s participation in the hobby or sport. This support and cooperation extend to funding and transportation. When divorced parents can’t agree on their child’s activities, ultimately, it’s the child who suffers.

Sports Safety for Kids

That’s not to say you should table every disagreement. When deciding on activities for your children, both parties (and your kid, of course) should have a say. This is especially true for sports such as football where concussions are a concern.

When making decisions about sports participation, the best way to keep your child safe is to create an open line of communication. Doing so encourages co-existence as co-parents, which hobbies like sports will continue to foster.

Not only will you likely see one another at games, but you might also need to coordinate pickup and dropoff from practice and other events. For your kid’s safety, clearly communicate. They should never be left without a ride.

Other sports safety tips for children include wearing protective gear, taking adequate rest breaks, knowing the rules of the game, and refraining from participating if injured. Both parents must commit to enforcing these guidelines and avoid falling for “Mom (or Dad) lets me do this at their house.” 

As long as the proper safety guidelines are upheld, sports can serve as a positive distraction from the stress of divorce for your child.

New Hobbies to Explore Together 

Sports participation isn’t the only activity that provides distraction and stability for kids, post-divorce. If you’re looking for other creative ways to bond with your child after divorce, consider taking up a new hobby together as a way to teach them something truly exciting.

In recent years, drones have become all the rage. The chance to fly such advanced technology interests kids and adults alike. With a vast array of models and designs to choose from, you’re sure to find a drone that’s a good match for your piloting skills and budget.

If you’re just getting started, it’s a good idea to purchase a model that’s recommended for beginners. Two of the best drones for kids are the DROCON Ninja Drone and the DJI Tello. Both are priced under $100 and feature easy-to-use controls so your child can learn the basics like hovering and descending. Especially when you’re starting out, fly in an open area and avoid crowds of people.

Whether you decide to try a new hobby like drone piloting or elect to make special sports memories together, encouraging and supporting your child’s participation in activities is important for ensuring they adjust to their new life, post-divorce.