It’s easy when thinking about custody and parenting plans to fall into the trap of treating all children the same. The reality is that the requirements of one child to the next can vary hugely. One factor that is often behind this is their age.
A plan that works well for a child of one particular age may be disastrous for one of a different age. This can be true even within the same family. Here are some of the ways things may differ.
1. The amount of time needed with parents
Older teenagers generally do not require the presence of their parents as much as toddlers or babies. They may spend most of their day at school, and much of the rest of their time studying, or out with friends or partaking in activities. This can free up their parents to work longer hours or pursue their own interests. By contrast, a very young child needs almost constant attention.
A young child may need daily calls from the parent they are not with to be considered in the parenting plan. A teen may not want to engage in such regular conversation, and can also just ring or message whenever they want from their cell phone.
2. The expenses to be split
Educational expenses are often fairly low when the kids are younger, as most attend free schools. Once a child goes to college, the cost will rise considerably with tuition fees and perhaps college accommodation to consider. The ratio co-parents use to split costs may no longer be feasible if one parent does not earn enough.
3. The importance of location
When your child is young, they may happily spend their spare time playing at either parent’s house, wherever they are situated. As they become older, they might find the location of one of the homes suits them much better. Perhaps one parent lives in the town where most of their friends live. Or maybe one makes it easier to get the bus to sports practice, while the other does not have a regular bus service, so they can only go when someone can drive them.
Determining the ideal parenting plan can be challenging, and once you do make one, you may need to alter it as your child grows. Legal guidance can be helpful to make or amend yours.