Parenting Plan
If you have separated, the very best thing you can do for your children is to have their best interests at heart. Many children worry about what will happen to them when their parents split up. It can be a big relief to them if the arrangements become clear and predictable, and helps them to feel more secure and confident about what is going to happen next.
The best interests of your children are the most important thing for you to think about when you make an agreement.
A Parenting Plan is an agreement that separated parents make about how their children will be cared for and supported. It is best for future relationships, if separated parents are able to think about and agree on arrangements about the children. That is, you and the other parents make decisions that best suit the needs of your children and your own circumstances. Agreeing about how things that affect your children are going to be organised, as straightforwardly as possible, will be good for your children and is likely to save arguments or misunderstandings along the way.
Some parents find it more productive to have a third party help them to negotiate an agreed Parenting Plan.
What is in a Parenting Plan?
A Parenting Plan can include anything that parents need to agree on about their children. A Parenting Plan can help parents avoid future conflicts arising from vague guidelines or unstated expectations about responsibilities relating to the children such as:
who your children will live with and what time your children will spend with each parent
the time your children will spend with others such as grandparents, siblings, step-parents or significant others who are important to your children
the activities each of you will do with your children (e.g. sports, homework, music) and whether both of you can agree to attend some important events simultaneously with your children
how you will share parental responsibility and decision making about the big things (e.g. what school your children will go to, healthcare decisions)
how you will talk about and come to agreement on the important, long-term issues as your children grow, their needs change or either parent’s circumstances change
how your children will keep in touch with the other parent and other people important to your children when they are with you
what arrangements need to be made for special occasions such as birthdays, religious or cultural events, holidays, graduation days
financial arrangements for the children including Child Support or Centrelink payments
an agreed process that can be followed to change the Parenting Plan or resolve problems if your children or either parent is not happy with the plan at a later date.
A clear Parenting Plan is not only important for parents, it is equally important for children to know that there is a clear plan in place for them.
When determining your Parenting Plan, the most important thing you can do is to place the interests of your children at the forefront of every decision.
More questions?
Contact Kathy by email admin@kpconsult.com.au