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Some people focus on a percentage of time to the exclusion of other issues that may be more important, like what the child needs. Children need time with both parents, and they also need time to enrich their lives with activities such as seeing their friends and being involved in sports or cultural activities like art or dance. Parents also need to attend to their child's spiritual needs, which may mean a religious education. Balance is the key. Children need time with both parents and time to be normal children. Making a successful parenting plan means putting yourself in your child's shoes. To many people, a 50/50 timeshare seems fair because it has the appearance of equality, and it can be worked out in many families. A variety of arrangements are possible to suit the needs of the restructured family, however. You should also keep in mind that the minimum timeshare for joint physical custody is one-third of the time over a year. Is 50/50 timeshare appropriate for your child? The answer is "It depends." Is this timeshare in the best interest of everyone concerned? The logistics may be difficult, but some families can work it out. There are many creative ways to have quality time with a child. "Quantity time" needs to be figured out according to what is in the best interest of the child. Some of the things to think about are the child's age, relationships with friends and extended family, availability of each parent, and distances to travel. It's important to not get hung up on hours, minutes, and seconds, but also to look at the quality of the time. This article has been edited and excerpted from Creating a Successful Parenting Plan: A Step-By-Step Guide for the Care of Children of Divided Families by Dr. A. Jayne Major (Breakthrough Parenting). Family education expert Dr. Major, who has worked with more than 12,000 parents over the last 16 years, teaches you how to help your child through your separation; to interact effectively with your ex; to determine the best timesharing arrangements for your child; and to make your agreement with your ex legal and binding. This helpful book is available by calling the publisher at (800) 770-7935.
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