Creating a Parenting Plan for Older Children

A divorce or separation situation is not easy especially when children are involved. Because shared parenting can be difficult, parenting plans help parents outline their responsibilities. It is difficult to be a shared parent for any age of child, but it can be especially difficult sharing parental responsibilities for older children. The pre-teen and teenage years are essential growing and impressionable years for children. A divorce or separation can make a pre-teen or teenage child to feel as though what is happening between his or her parents is his or her fault or that he or she is the reason for the separation or divorce.

Developing a plan just for older children is essential. Older children need to know that the divorce or separation is not his or her fault. Making a parenting plan for older or adolescent children may not be easy, so consider the following guidelines:

• The child's personality. Is the child sensitive? Is the child showing signs of depression or is he or she prone to depression? Has the child clammed up or become introverted?

• The child's activities. What extracurricular activities does the child participate in? How will the new situation affect the child's activities?

• The child's medical conditions or learning disabilities, if any. Does the child have any chronic medical conditions? Are there any learning disabilities or illnesses the child has that require special care or attention?

• The child's primary care and lodging. Which parent is responsible for the child's primary residence and care? Are both parents sharing joint physical custody?

• The child's relationships with other family. Are there any siblings? If so, how are their relationships? Are there regular visits to grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins?

Making a plan specifically for older children is essential to the children's overall well-being. A plan made for older or adolescent children is an excellent idea to outline the children's specific needs. Parents' responsibilities to care for their children should be detailed in a parenting plan. It is important to maintain a positive attitude as an effective parenting plan is created. The children's welfare and best interests should be the first priority for making a plan. Shared parenting can work with a well-made plan for the sake of the children.

Older children have unique needs that need to be addressed in a parenting plan. Having an effective plan is important to keeping older children as the main focus rather than letting them fall through the cracks.