KidsFirst! Custody Agreements - Parenting Plans » kids first

We Want Your Opinion!

Henry Koltys — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:27:53 +0000

In our ongoing effort to enhance KidsFirst! for you we have created a simple survey! We would appreciate your feedback and comments regarding what you need during this transitional time.

Please take just a minute to fill out our survey!

Thank you for making KidsFirst! even better.

Shared Custody vs. Joint Custody

Henry Koltys — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:02:28 +0000

If both parents agree on shared custody, the next question should be: “How does this arrangement benefit our child?”

Kids-Plus! benefits the child by asking these questions of both parents.

If he is very young, making an agreement to move him from one parent’s home to the other several times each week is too disruptive.

If your child moves from one house to the other without a enough time to adjust and find a consistent rhythms, he may begin to feel unsafe and emotionally unstable.

It is important to establish consistent routines in each home because children need structure.

Longer periods of time spent with each parent may be preferable so one week on and one week off may be a better arrangement.

What works for your family?

How to Best Protect Your Children

Henry Koltys — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 17:08:26 +0000

When going through a divorce or seperation it is sometimes easy to overlook the small things that protect our children. In your parenting plan you need to address ALL issues regarding the child or children- not just the big issues, such as protective gear when playing sports. And which sports they are allowed to play.

Allowing your child to play football, hockey or other violent sport can either benefit or harm him, both emotionally and physically. It is important to hear all sides for what may involve conflicting interests.

It is equally important that neither parent force a child to participate in sports that serve to model or redeem their own successes or failures in sports or even in life.

If the family can talk openly about wishes, desires and fears, these disagreements can be opportunities to speak about deeper issues.

Since the family is in such transition, making decisions that acknowledge the family’s vulnerability can be an opening for healing.

It is critical that each family member has a voice and is allowed the time to explore and explain reasons behind a response. This means the decision making process includes really listening, valuing and considering each other’s perspective.

Instead of saying NO! immediately to a request, leave the door open for discussion by saying, “Tell me more about why you want this.”

By discussing while designing the parenting plan its important to remember, that this plan is meant to put the KidsFirst! not your own or worse to ‘get back at’ your ex.

Welcome to KidsFirst! On-line Parenting Plan Blog!

Henry Koltys — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:23:30 +0000

Welcome to our KidsFirst! blog, where we provide separating and divorcing parents with valuable, practical parenting advice and legal information to help protect children during this critical time.

We would appreciate any suggestions and comments that will improve both KidsFirst! parenting plan software and the KidsFirst! blog.

Henry Koltys