Child custody schedules can help children adjust

Parents in California going through a divorce may often worry most about how to arrange their time with their children. Moving to shared custody or even a visitation schedule can be a challenging and emotionally jarring experience. The bad feelings generated during the divorce may spill over into the child custody proceedings. However, when parents can work together to develop a parenting plan, it can help to ease the transition for the children involved and provide them with emotional and physical support from both of their parents.

The journey toward co-parenting can be difficult yet rewarding, and it works best when both parents can work together to help their children. During a divorce, kids may feel as if their future is uncertain; a solid parenting plan can help to allay these fears. Of course, child custody decisions can be different for children of different ages. Children of all ages generally benefit from shared custody and strong involvement with both parents, but arranging frequent travel between homes can be problematic when infants and very young toddlers are involved. As children grow up, it is easier to transition to full-time shared custody.

Children will often need reminders of their schedule at the beginning, especially if they are young. They may express wishes to see the other parent frequently. As they enter the preschool years and beyond, however, children find it easier to adapt to a shared custody schedule. For older kids, school schedules and extracurricular activities are important to keep in mind when making a parenting plan.

Different child custody options can work best for different families. In all cases, parents can make sure to protect their close bond with their children. A family law attorney can work to develop a fair parenting plan and custody schedule that reflects the best interests of the children.