What belongs on your parenting plan?

On Behalf of | Jul 28, 2021 | Child Custody |

Besides determining how to handle your company and substantial assets in a divorce, you and your soon-to-be-former spouse must navigate child custody. How do you work together to craft a parenting plan that supports you and your shared children?

Psychology Today offers tips for drafting a viable strategy for divorced parents and their children. Consider these insights as you learn how to maintain and strengthen your relationship with your shared kids while divorcing.

Detailed schedule

Sit with your current partner to review your individual schedules and your shared children’s schedules. Decide when each parent has custody of the children and when you have “off” days. While creating this schedule, account for holidays, birthdays, vacations, school trips and extracurricular activities.

Essential documents and liaison

Deciding which parent keeps essential documents for your children may sound minor, but you could need access to your child’s birth certificate, immunization records or Social Security card more than you realize. Because you may need those vital documents for doctor’s appointments and school meetings, you and the other parent may want to discuss who accompanies your kids to the doctor and attends parent night and similar school functions.

Agreements

Do you want to set limits on how much screen time your kids have? Are there school activities you would rather not have your child take part in? Do you or the other parent have requests or hesitations regarding religious education, healthcare decisions or parties for your children? Include these matters in the parenting plan now to (hopefully) avoid conflict later.

The right parenting plan provides your shared children with stability during and after divorce proceedings. Use it to improve your kids’ lives and enjoy a positive co-parenting relationship.