4 Things to Consider When Making a Parenting Schedule

 Posted on July 19, 2024 in Parenting Time

Raising a child after a divorce can present certain challenges. These challenges can be behavioral, psychological, emotional, or logistical. For example, you may struggle with coordinating your child’s transportation between your home, your co-parent’s house, and the child’s school. You may also have trouble finding a compromise with your co-parent about who will have physical custody of your child during vacations and holidays.

To avoid such obstacles, Illinois law requires divorcing parents to submit a parenting plan to the court. This document contains, among other things, a parenting schedule that outlines which parent has physical custody of the child — referred to as parenting time — and when. It also details provisions for how the child will be transported between the parents and how each parent may communicate with the child when it is the other parent’s time.

Once a parenting plan is approved by the court it becomes legally binding, so it is best to create a parenting schedule and plan with the help of an Illinois child custody attorney.

Here are four things to consider when making a parenting schedule.

Your Child’s Age and Needs

When creating a parenting schedule, keep your child’s age and needs in focus. If your child is younger, he or she may be fine staying with either parent. If your child is a teen, however, he or she may want to spend more time around friends and stay closer to a social life, which is something to take into account when making vacation plans.

Your Schedule and Lifestyle

Another important thing to consider when creating a parenting plan is your schedule and situation. Remember that you are also trying to adjust to post-divorce life, and it will not help you or your child if you make a schedule that is too challenging for you and your lifestyle. This can cause unnecessary tension and poor communication. 

Parental Responsibilities

Your parenting plan should also outline how parental responsibilities will be divided between you and your co-parent. Parental responsibilities include:

• Decision-making about the child’s health

• Decision-making about the child’s education

• Decision-making about the child’s religious upbringing

The division of parental responsibilities may affect the parenting schedule. For example, whichever parent makes decisions about the child’s religious upbringing may wish to have parenting time with the child during religious holidays.

Your Child’s Preferences

When making a parenting schedule, you may also want to consider your child’s preferences. Forcing your child into a schedule he or she does not want can make the situation even more challenging for everyone involved. However, your child’s wishes may be less or more significant depending on factors like his or her age, temperament, and maturity. Ultimately, you know your child best and will decide how much weight to give your child’s preferences.

Contact a St. Charles, IL Child Custody Lawyer

Parenting schedules should be designed with care and foresight. At The Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we will guide you in creating a rewarding parenting plan and schedule to help you and your child thrive. Call 630-409-8184 to speak with an experienced Kane County, IL child custody attorney today.