As a parent in Texas, after your divorce, you will have to work with your former spouse to focus on your child, so creating a parenting plan is crucial. These are things you should keep in mind when you create your plan.

YOUR CHILD’S BEST INTERESTS
Always keep your child’s best interests in mind when creating your parenting plan. This should include all of their biggest physical and emotional needs.

THE IDEAL PARENTING SCHEDULE
The parenting schedule is a crucial component of the parenting plan. Basing your custody schedule on your child’s age and needs is wise. Younger children need to spend more time with both parents and might be best with the 2-2-3 schedule, which lets them spend two days with you, two days with their other parent and then three days with you again. The following week, you switch it up. Older kids can do better with a variation such as the 5-2 schedule, spending five days in a row with one parent and two days with the other.

COMMUNICATION PLANS
A parenting plan works best if you have a communication plan in place for your parenting time. You might need to reach out to one another when one of you has time with your child. Sharing updates is crucial, but you should decide how and when to communicate. You might decide to talk over the phone, through video chats or even via texts. Likewise, you should plan on how and when you’ll communicate with your child when the other has custody time.

KEEP THINGS CONSISTENT
Kids do best when their lives have consistency, and the children’s best interests are at the heart of family law. You and your former spouse should aim to give your child a regular routine and decide how to do that in your parenting plan. Keeping schedules consistent and being flexible when circumstances require it can give your child comfort.

Having a good parenting plan in place will benefit everyone and reduce conflict between parents while providing stability and consistency for the child.