No matter what age your child may be, there are certain tips to keep in mind when creating the essential parenting plan.
It is important to remember:
- Children develop best when both parents have meaningful and stable involvement in their lives.
- Each parent has different and valuable contributions to make to their children’s development.
- It is better for young children to spend more time with parents and less time with other caregivers.
- Communication and cooperation between parents is important. Setting consistent rules in both households and sharing knowledge of events create a sense of security for children of all ages. Parents must discuss and plan school activities and other events.
- If children are allowed to bring their personal items back and forth between the households, they develop a better sense of ownership and responsibility. Parents should purchase special things for the children but not restrict those items to their own house.
- Children need to be protected from adult conflicts. They should not be exposed to arguments, hostility and negative comments between the parents. They do not want to hear negative things about someone they love.
- Children should not be messengers—they are the children. The parents should do the adult work so that children may complete the tasks of being children.
From COPARENTING AFTER DIVORCE: A GPS FOR HEALTHY KIDS by Debra K. Carter, PhD; Unhooked Books.
About Debra Carter
