So, you have just separated. You have children and you want to take into account the Best Child Parenting Schedule Considerations. It is a stressful time with a lot of change for both you and your child. You want to make the separation as smooth as possible for the child and insulate them from the tensions you are going through. You and your ex-spouse want to come to a parenting schedule arrangement that has stability for the child, which you are both happy with and that prioritizes the child’s best interests. You have good intentions, but what crucial factors should you consider? In today’s blog rising star Vancouver best parenting plan lawyers team memeber Sophie Bartholomew helps you take advantage of the Best Child Parenting Schedule Considerations. MacLean Law set the law on maximum contact in Young v. Young and is in the vanguard of obtaining the best child parenting schedules to help children thrive and develop as successful adults. Contacting top rated family lawyers like those of maclean law across canada helpsyou make the best decisions for your child. Call us at 1 877 602 9900.
Best Child Parenting Schedule Considerations
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1. Best Child Parenting Schedule Considerations- Age and needs of the Child
Our best parenting plan lawyers know first and foremost, the Best Child Parenting Schedule Considerations arrangement reached needs to be in the child’s best interests. That means, that the age of the child and any specific needs that child may have should be taken into consideration. For example, if the child is young, then this may mean that you believe shorter periods of time with each parent, with more transfers between the parents is beneficial to the Child. If the Child has specific medical or behavioural needs, then this will also impact the best schedule. For example, if the child has separation anxiety, again shorter periods of time with each parent may be beneficial, at least in the short term. See more here on general principles to take into account.
2. Primary care or shared care?
You need to consider whether you are both willing and able to have a shared parenting arrangement. This may be impacted by how you divided parenting arrangements during your relationship, whether there has been family violence, and whether there are any issues with respect to one of the parties’ parenting ability to include drug or alcohol dependence etc.
3. Best Parenting Plan Lawyers-Schedules Available-1 877 602 9900
Our best parenting plan lawyers explain there are various options available to guardians to try and find the parenting schedule that works best for you. Some of the most common schedules taking into account the Best Child Parenting Schedule Considerations (note the numbers refer to overnights) are as follows:
a. Week on, Week off (sometimes with a mid-week overnight during the other parent’s week);
b. 2-2-5-5 Schedule (with transitions before/after school);
c. 2-2-3 Schedule; and
d. 4-3-3-4 Schedule.
4. Transitions
Depending on how you and your ex-spouse are able to communicate or be in each other’s presence, you need to consider whether transitions should be limited as much as possible to school/third-party locations, or whether you are able to transition at the other’s residence. Please note that sometimes a third-party will need to assist with transitions, for example if there has been family violence between you and your ex-spouse. Vancouver best parenting plan lawyers know the timing of transitions also needs to be considered to make sure that it works with the parenting schedule you wish to put in place, but also that it is not too early or late for your particular child. For example, if you propose transition at 7pm this may be too late for a young child when they would be in the middle of their bedroom routine.
5. Changes to the Regular Parenting Schedule
Ideally the stability of a regular schedule is both beneficial to you both as guardians so you can plan and arrange accordingly, but also to the Children who then have a routine and know what to expect. That being said, sometimes it is necessary to amend the schedule to accommodate special circumstances and requests. Depending on the level of communication between you and the other guardian, it may be necessary for such requests to be made in writing to include email or text message. It may be necessary for you to stipulate a given number of hours before the change, for the request to be made so as to avoid last minute changes. Longer-term changes may be necessary as children get older, and their needs and best interests change. Long term changes should be considered carefully and these factors should be re-assessed to see what arrangement may be in the child’s best interests.
6. School Holidays, Statutory Holidays and Special Occasions
Sometimes guardians decide that the regular schedule continues during school holidays. Other times, parties set out how each holiday period will be split so as to allow more extended periods to go on vacation. It depends again on your communication as to whether the details need to be stipulated at the outset, or whether you can agree that the holidays will be split, for example, equally, with the details of the dates to be agreed a certain number of days/ weeks before the start of the holiday period.
For statutory holidays, you need to decide whether the regular parenting schedule applies, or whether you wish to make other arrangements.
With respect to specific holidays such as Christmas, Easter weekend, Halloween, Thanksgiving etc. you need to decide whether such occasions will be divided between you or alternating.
With respect to Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Birthdays, this can be particularly difficult. Again, you need to decide whether the child will spend the whole day with the other guardian during the relevant day, whether the day will be split, or whether separate celebrations on different days will take place. This can be particularly difficult to decide during the child’s birthday, but remember, any arrangement should be child focused and be as much as possible about what is in their best interests. This may mean that you split the Child’s birthday, or both attend a celebration if you are able to.
7. Best Child Parenting Schedule Considerations- Review?
Vancouver Best Child Parenting Schedule Considerations
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As detailed throughout, just because a schedule is put in place, does not mean that the schedule should remain until the child is no longer a child of the relationship. It is likely that a schedule will need to be reviewed as circumstances change and the child gets older. For example, an arrangement in place before a child goes to school, will need to be adapted to accommodate school. An arrangement that was in place for an 8-year-old, may not be appropriate for a 16-year-old who wants more autonomy. Fundamentally, parenting schedules must be reviewed to ensure that they represent the child’s best interests. This could be by way of an annual scheduled review, or more flexible arrangements to accommodate changes in circumstances as they arise. Check out these schedules from a parenting communication portal
There is a lot to consider but when it is such an important decision to ensure your child’s best interests, it is worth putting the time in at the early stages to set a routine that works bet for your family. Click here for a detailed booklet on parenting plans.
At MacLean Law we have lawyers who can advise you about the Best Parenting Schedule Considerations in your circumstances and help draft a parenting agreement tailored to your family. If you cannot agree on what schedule is in your child’s best interests, there are parenting concerns, or there has been family violence, then our office can guide you through the steps for matters to be addressed by the Court. Contact our offices across Canada if you need help in coming to the best parenting schedule for you.
