From here to there and the in‐between: Children’s transitions between homes after parental separation

Overview

This study examines the practical, emotional, and relational dimensions of children's transitions between parental homes following separation, an area that has received limited empirical attention despite its potential significance in post-separation parenting arrangements. The research identifies and analyzes five contextual factors that influence how transitions are experienced and interpreted by both children and parents: changeover locations, transition routines and rituals, transitional containers, transitional objects, and transitional people. The investigation focuses on understanding the strategies families employ to manage these transitions and the various elements that provide support, continuity, and emotional stability for children navigating dual-household arrangements.

Methods and approach

The research employed in-depth interviews with a non-probability purposive sample of 40 separated parents, comprising 13 mothers and 27 fathers. Participants were recruited primarily through family and relationship support services. The sample characteristics indicated that two-thirds of participants reported experiencing high levels of interparental conflict, and 45 percent had shared-time parenting arrangements. The qualitative approach enabled detailed exploration of the lived experiences of transitions and the mechanisms parents use to facilitate children's movement between households.

Results

The findings revealed considerable variation in changeover practices, with some parents preferring public locations over private homes due to safety or comfort considerations. Parents implemented multiple strategies to support children's emotional wellbeing during transitions, including visual timetables to provide predictability, comfort items to maintain continuity across households, and calming routines to manage transition-related stress. The research identified siblings and grandparents as providing crucial support and continuity for children during these transitions. The five contextual factors examined demonstrated their collective influence on how transitions are structured and experienced, highlighting the complexity of managing children's movement between separated households and the adaptive strategies families develop to address associated challenges.

Implications

The research offers practical insights for family law system professionals working with separated families, particularly regarding the design and evaluation of post-separation parenting arrangements. The findings suggest that attention to transition mechanics—including location selection, temporal structuring, material supports, and social networks—may be relevant to optimizing children's adjustment to dual-household arrangements. Beyond family law contexts, the study has broader applicability for professionals in elementary schools, kindergartens, foster care settings, and child day-care facilities. These settings involve similar transition dynamics, and the identified strategies and support mechanisms may inform approaches to facilitating children's initial and ongoing transitions into and out of institutional care and educational environments. The research contributes to understanding how continuity and stability can be maintained for children experiencing frequent movement between different care contexts.

Disclosure

• Research title: From here to there and the in‐between: Children's transitions between homes after parental separation
• Authors: Bruce Smyth, Megan Reid Hobbs, Jan Stokkebekk
• Publication date: 2026-01-14
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.70047
• OpenAlex record: View
• Disclosure: This post was generated by artificial intelligence. The original authors did not write or review this post.