How to decide on a coparenting schedule
When trying to coparent in New Jersey, it helps to have a clear parenting time schedule. You both have a guide that can assist you in planning ahead and setting expectations for childcare. Beyond logistics, a consistent arrangement also helps your children maintain strong relationships with you while providing stability in their daily lives.
However, there is no single schedule that works for every family. There are a number of coparenting plans that you can adjust to fit your family’s specific needs.
The alternating week schedule
When crafting a coparenting arrangement, many parents opt to have a “week on/week off” plan for dividing their time with their children. In an alternating week plan, the child spends one full week with one parent before spending the next week with the other parent.
This arrangement allows your children to have extended time with both of you without the stress of constantly traveling between households. Though popular, this schedule may not work if your children already have school or if you live far apart from each other.
The 2-2-5-5 variation
For parents who are both working and share school-aged children, the 2-2-5-5 plan offers more consistency. This model allows the children to spend time with one parent for two weekdays and two with the other. Then, they will spend five-day stretches that include the weekend with alternate parents.
You can easily adjust this schedule to match your work hours and fit school breaks and holidays. When set up well, it gives your children a steady, predictable routine and minimizes travel between parents during the school week.
Weekend parenting time
If one parent lives farther away or has a less flexible schedule, a primary-home plan with weekend visits may work well. In this setup, a child lives mostly with one parent and stays with the other parent every other weekend.
While this plan gives one parent less time, you can balance the arrangement by scheduling longer stays during school holidays or summer break. Your child can also stay in touch through texts, social media and video calls to help preserve a strong relationship during the times you are apart.
Giving children normalcy and structure
When agreeing on parenting time, it is essential to remain realistic about which arrangement benefits your children the most. Moreover, a parenting plan works best when you agree on the terms together after reviewing them with your legal representatives. A lawyer can help you look at your options and set the best schedule that allows your children to thrive.
