For millions of children across the country, living with a parent in prison is an unfortunate reality. These children face high amounts of emotional, physical, and financial stress, stress that can be insurmountable without the support of another adult. If you are a parent or guardian to a child whose parent is incarcerated, being that source of stability for the child is critical.
It may also place increased stress on you, but there are numerous ways to ensure your child is supported throughout this difficult time. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can help your child adapt and continue to grow.
When one parent is suddenly out of the picture, a child loses an essential source of support that can be difficult to replace. One of the most helpful things you can do is step up and serve as an anchor for your child. Show them that although one parent may be gone, they still have someone else who can guide and love them. You’re not trying to replace the other parent’s role, just filling in and helping your child grow while the parent is in prison.
Children with imprisoned parents will likely have a difficult time communicating how they feel, as they may not fully understand it themselves. It’s essential that you remain communicative with your child so they can work through the situation without repressing any emotions. Let them ask questions if they have them, encourage them to talk through their feelings, and provide age-appropriate answers and emotional support.
Although your child has an incarcerated parent, you still have access to many other supportive adults who can help them through these new challenges. Close family members are often an excellent place to start, whether there’s an aunt or grandparent that would be a valuable source of support. They may be able to provide additional insight into what’s going on and explain what their imprisoned parent is going through and why.
Your child’s school can also have supportive adults you can lean on to help. School counselors are trained and certified to guide children through difficult times, and you can often set up regular meetings with them and your child.
Just know that although you may feel alone in suddenly taking care of your child without additional help, other people in your life can take some of the pressure off.
Many children with an incarcerated parent wish to stay connected with them somehow. If the relationship between the parent and child is healthy, the imprisoned parent can still be a supportive adult. If you can help your child connect with their parent, it can help reduce feelings of loss or anxiety.
There are often barriers to communicating with someone in prison, but many incarcerated individuals are allowed to receive letters, calls, and emails, and participate in video visits. Although the incarcerated parent may not be home, just an email correspondence can help the child feel less lonely.
Roni Davis is a writer, blogger, and legal assistant operating out of the greater Philadelphia area. She writes for Mosser Legal, a criminal appeals lawyer in Philadelphia.
