Creating an effective custody arrangement can be one of the most complex aspects of a divorce. Adhering to such an arrangement can take time for the whole family to get used to. And during the summer, when children are home from school, many parents have to revisit their custody arrangement again.
So, what should Connecticut parents know about summer child custody plans?
Should you change the parenting schedule?
Whether or not parents modify the parenting schedule depends entirely on the family’s individual situation.
Parents might opt to keep the schedule the same as the school year or adjust it so each parent has more time with the kids. Regardless of how parents arrange their summer custody schedule, there are a few things that all parents should consider in advance.
Three critical factors parents must take into account
Connecticut families are currently facing uncharted territory with the current social distancing guidelines. However, it is generally important for families to carefully consider these three factors when determining summer custody plans, no matter what.
These factors include:
- Childcare: When school is out, children are at home full-time. And in many cases, both parents work full-time. Therefore, they must find a form of childcare they can agree on, such as a daycare, summer day camp or even hiring a regular babysitter. Both parents must agree on summer childcare to provide stability for the child and protect their best interests. It also helps if they agree, so they can determine how they will pay for childcare.
- Planning in advance: The summer is often filled with vacations, family get-togethers and other fun social events. In general, parents must consider vacations they plan to take their kids on in advance. They must give the other parent plenty of notice, so they can arrange it in the parenting schedule. When parents give each other as much notice as possible, it significantly reduces the risk of a conflict
- Communication: Communication between divorced parents is always important. However, the summer involves considerably more parenting time for both parents than the school year. Children do not have the routine of school to rely on, so they rely on their parents to provide that routine. This often requires parents to communicate about their child more during the summer months. Planning communication strategies in advance can help ensure parents continue to respect each other’s boundaries
Depending on the child’s age, parents should also consult their children together to understand what activities or plans they would like to participate in. After all, it is their summer too.
