Enriching virtual visitation in divorced families

Divorce is a traumatic disruption in the lives of families that puts both parents and children at risk for long-term emotional and social consequences. However, if the non-residential parent maintains a quality relationship with the child, many of these negative consequences are mitigated. Divorced families face substantial challenges in parenting while living apart, especially as geographic separation often makes in-person visitation more difficult. Many families are turning to virtual visitation—supplementing in-person visits with use of communication technologies such as videoconferencing. However, current communication technologies are often inadequate to support long-distance parenting. We discuss the needs of divorced families and how these may be addressed through design. We present a case study of a single intervention, called the ShareTable, aimed at enriching virtual visitation between parents and children who live apart. Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of designing for divorced families.