Your employer may offer free counseling services with licensed professionals who can help you develop ideas for parenting during this time of change. Check with your HR department.
Parenting Plans By State
- Alaska, Self-help, Parenting Plan Info, Forms
- California State, Parenting Plan, Online Self Help
- Idaho Parenting Plans
- Oregon State, Parenting Plan Information
- Tennessee Parenting Plan Forms
- Washington Sample Parenting Plan
- West Virginia Parenting Plan
- Wisconsin Parenting Plans
More Parenting Plans
- 8 Printable Parenting Plan Worksheets
- Comprehensive Parenting Plan (usa)
- Cooperative Parenting Agreement
- Weekly Scheduling Chart Word | PDF
- Parenting Plan Template
- Sample Parenting Plan (australia)
- Sample Residence Contact Arrangements (uk)
Common suggestions to include in parenting plans:
Bed time routines
Bath?, Reading?, Where does the child sleep?, Does the child use a blanket or pacifier?, Does the child sleep with a bottle?, Does the child sleep in a crib or bed?, Does the child sleep with or without adults?, What do you do in the middle of the night with crying spells, put them in your bed or comfort them to sleep in their own bed?, Do they listen to music while going to sleep?
Discipline
Reward and Punishment: How do you praise- vocally, gift, allowance, charts, etc. How do you discipline? Do you spank, and if so with what? Do you use time out, send them to room, put in corner, ground (and if so, how long and for what consequences), remove privileges? etc. Will you use carry over discipline between the two homes.
Relationships
When should you introduce new relationships to the child? What do you want to make sure potential relationships know about your agreement before they decide to become involved? What terms will be used when referring to stepparents?
Daily Routines
For younger children, what are the daily routines? What baby care products do you use? What diapers? What formulas? When do you switch foods? When do you potty train? Will you use a pacifier or walker? The list goes on and on with infants. What are the children’s bed times? Will the children sleep with adults or in their own room?
Illness
What do you do when the children are sick? Do you still exchange? If so should the other parent be able to attend doctors appointments and should they be notified in advance baring an emergency? Should you keep a medicine checklist so you are giving medicines about the same time and noting reactions to the medications?
Extracurricular Activities
Do you need to both agree before enrolling the child? What happens when an event occurs during the other parent’s possession? Can they still have sleep-overs and independent relationships with friends during the other parent’s period of possession? Religion?
Supervision
What are your limits on supervision? Can they ride bicycles in the street alone? Can they run down the block to a neighbors? Do they need to check in with you? When can they be left alone and for how long?
Financial contributions
How will school activities or extracurricular events be covered? What do you do with clothes, do each of you keep equal stock or does one send a suitcase with all belongings?
Terminology and Respect
What words will you use (Visiting, Living with, When you are at your other home)? How can you be sure you stay updated about your child without intruding on the other parent’s right to privacy with the child?
Decisions
Who will make final decisions when all else fails or what steps will you take before bringing it back to the court (i.e. Mediation)?
Professional Appointments
Do you need to notice each other in advance of appointments? Who will make the decisions regarding professional services?
Holidays
How do you celebrate? Will one have Christmas Eve and the other Christmas day? Do you observe holidays? Do you have religious issues related to holidays? What about the children’s birthdays, and what about the parent’s birthdays?
