Parenting Plans for Today’s Times

A thoughtful parenting plan is the heart of a successful relationship between co-parents and the children they share. Creating a plan can be difficult, both emotionally and practically, but a good parenting plan facilitates communication between parents and minimizes the chances of conflicts that could affect the children.

Parenting plans lay out the details of where the kids will live, what happens on holidays and birthdays, and how the parents will cover various expenses. But in today’s rapidly changing world, it’s a good idea to consider going a little further with your parenting plan.

Considerations for a Modern Parenting Plan in Texas

If you’re creating a parenting plan for the first time or revising an existing arrangement, here are a few topics to consider:

• Electronic devices: Many parents have their reservations when it comes to kids using smartphones, tablets, and other devices, but most school-aged children use them daily. Parents should discuss device usage and agree on screen time limitations for their kids. Both parents should enforce the limits to avoid a situation where a child favors one parent because that parent allows more screen time.
• Social media accounts: Social media goes hand-in-hand with device usage. Many kids spend countless hours on apps like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. Social media has been proven to have a huge effect on children’s mental health by exposing them to cyberbullying, sexual content, marketing messages, and body shaming. Parents should try to create a clear approach to their kids’ social media use, and again, both parents should consistently enforce the limits.
• Vaccines: Opinions on vaccination have varied for decades, but the differences of opinion were laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents should discuss vaccines, agree on what vaccines their children will and won’t receive, and specify them in the parenting agreement.

Society and culture will continue to evolve, and as a parent, you’ll want to make sure your parenting plan accounts for as many of the realities of modern life as possible. A skilled Texas child custody attorney can guide you.   

Get Parenting Plan Advice From a Child Custody Lawyer in Arlington

Schneider Law Firm’s Arlington family lawyers always stay up to date on the new and ever-changing aspects of life that parents should consider adding to their parenting plans. If you need to create or change a parenting plan, reach out to our attorneys for help today. You can call our Arlington office at 817-799-7125 or contact us online anytime.