Legal Definitions - isolating

In family law, isolating refers to a consistent pattern of behavior by a parent or caregiver that deliberately restricts a child's social interactions and access to external relationships. This behavior aims to separate the child from typical social development, often by preventing them from making friends, participating in social activities, or fostering a belief that they have no one else to rely on.

• A parent consistently refuses to allow their child to attend school events, birthday parties, or playdates with neighborhood children, even when invited, without any valid reason such as illness or a prior commitment.

  This illustrates isolating behavior because the parent is actively preventing the child from engaging in normal social experiences and forming friendships with peers, thereby cutting them off from essential social development.

• A caregiver constantly tells a teenager that their friends are bad influences and untrustworthy, and that the teenager should only confide in the caregiver. The caregiver also intercepts the teenager's phone calls and messages, discouraging any independent communication with peers.

  This demonstrates isolating behavior by creating a belief in the child that they are alone in the world and cannot trust others, while simultaneously preventing the formation of other trusted relationships through direct interference with communication.

• A parent forbids their elementary school-aged child from joining any after-school clubs or sports teams, despite the child expressing interest. The parent also keeps the child home from school frequently, citing minor ailments that do not warrant absence, leading to the child missing out on classroom interactions and group activities.

  This exemplifies isolating behavior by systematically denying the child opportunities for normal social experiences and peer interaction in structured environments like school and extracurricular activities, which are crucial for developing social skills and friendships.