One of the most challenging things that parents have to do when they divorce is determine what their parenting time schedule will look like. There are many factors that can affect how this is going to work. For example, parents may need different schedules for the school year, school breaks and holidays. Another thing to think about is a child’s extracurricular activities.
While extracurricular activities might not be a major consideration when a child is younger, things can become more complex as the child’s calendar fills with things like sports practices, school performances, clubs and other activities. Balancing these opportunities with each parent’s parenting time and work schedules is, ultimately, very important for many families.
What should parents consider?
A parenting time schedule and parenting plan should generally address recurring activities. As parents are setting up their plan for extracurricular activities, the impact on each parent’s parenting time must be considered. Both parents should agree to any particular extracurricular activity, if possible, as a result.
Transportation may be one of the primary considerations if the children at issue don’t drive. They will need someone to bring them to practices, competitions, games and performances. This can be difficult to schedule, so both parents should look at the extracurricular activity schedule and their own schedule to determine how this will be handled.
Paying for an extracurricular activity is often another consideration. It’s a good idea to discuss this in advance and have any agreement put in writing so both parents know exactly what they’re responsible for.
This is one example of why setting up a comprehensive parenting plan is crucial in most co-parenting situations. There is simply too much at stake in complex two-household parenting situations to leave details to chance.