When parents divorce, they have to put their children’s best interests before all other things – and that starts with a carefully drafted parenting plan.
While there are a lot of different issues that have to be addressed in a parenting plan, one area that can easily get overlooked is the significant discussions you should have with your co-parent about your child’s extracurriculars.
Why is this so important?
Whether it’s sports or academic clubs, band camp or theater, extracurriculars help children develop into well-rounded individuals and explore their talents. However, extracurriculars can be hard to manage. When the parents are divorced, they need to:
- Discuss how schedules will operate: You need to talk about the logistics of transportation, time commitments and any potential conflicts that could interfere with the custody and visitation arrangements.
- Determine how the costs will be shared: Any parent can tell you that extracurriculars come with extra expenses, like registration fees, equipment, uniforms and travel expenses. Will the costs be split evenly or allocated according to income?
- Talk about decision-making authority: Will major decisions, such as selecting which activities to pursue or enrolling in competitive programs, require mutual agreement between both parents? Clarifying decision-making processes can prevent disagreements and give both parents a voice in their child’s extracurricular experiences.
- Establish a communication protocol: Open, frequent communication keeps both parents informed and involved in their child’s interests and extracurriculars – so discuss the need to share schedules, updates on performances, changes in schedule or problems with a child’s participation in an event.
A comprehensive parenting plan is a very involved process that requires a lot of thought and compromise. By addressing extracurricular activities within the plan, you can create a supportive framework within which your child can thrive even in the middle of family transitions.