Parenting Plan Tips for School Age Children | Episode 36

Developing a Parenting Plan for School-Aged Children: A Guide to Custody and SchedulingIn this episode of Divorce at Altitude, Ryan Kalamaya dives into the essentials of creating a parenting plan for school-aged children (ages 5–13). He offers practical advice on developing a schedule that prioritizes your child’s needs while ensuring that both parents maintain a healthy, supportive role in their lives.Episode Outline1. Comfort with Separation School-aged children are typically more comfortable with separations from their parents compared to younger kids. They’re more independent, enjoy spending time with friends, and participate in extracurricular activities. Your parenting plan should reflect these developmental milestones by allowing the child to have consistent and predictable time with both parents.2. Communication and Technology As children reach school age, they can handle phone calls or video chats with the other parent. However, it’s important to align with the other parent on the appropriate time and frequency for communication. Keep in mind that allowing excessive texting or FaceTiming during the other parent’s time could lead to conflict and needs to be addressed in the plan.3. Shared Responsibilities A school-aged child can benefit from both parents actively participating in school activities, such as homework, parent-teacher conferences, and extracurriculars. Parents should discuss and decide how they’ll share these responsibilities and agree on attending events like school plays or sports games together, if feasible.4. Ideal Custody Schedules For children in this age group, a 2-2-5-5 or a week-on/week-off schedule can be more appropriate, as long as both parents can remain flexible. The key is to ensure the child’s routine isn’t disrupted too much and that both parents maintain consistent involvement.5. Media and Socialization As children become exposed to more media, including TV, friends, and other social influences, parents should align on what’s appropriate. Discussions about violence, sexuality, and substance abuse should be addressed so both parents are on the same page regarding what the child is exposed to.6. Family Chores and Expectations School-aged children are old enough to contribute to family chores. It’s important for parents to communicate their expectations clearly, even if they differ between households. What is Divorce at Altitude? Ryan Kalamaya and Amy Goscha provide tips and recommendations on issues related to divorce, separation, and co-parenting in Colorado. Ryan and Amy are the founding partners of an innovative and ambitious law firm, Kalamaya | Goscha, that pushes the boundaries to discover new frontiers in family law, personal injuries, and criminal defense in Colorado. To subscribe to Divorce at Altitude, click here and select your favorite podcast player. To subscribe to Kalamaya | Goscha's YouTube channel where many of the episodes will be posted as videos, click here.  If you have additional questions or would like to speak to one of our attorneys, give us a call at 970-429-5784 or email us at [email protected].************************************************************************DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS ON THIS PODCAST IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE. CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE OR AREA TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE ON ANY OF THESE ISSUES.