Back to School Tips for Co-Parents

The back-to-school season can be an exciting time for children — but it can sometimes be stressful for co-parents. Whether you are going through a divorce or facing a custody dispute, establishing a solid routine for the school year is crucial to help ensure your child thrives. While the best interests of your child should always come first and foremost, here are some tips to help co-parents navigate the back-to-school transition smoothly:

Create a Family Calendar

Navigating everyone’s schedules can be difficult. Create a family calendar to ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to after-school activities, events, medical appointments, and work obligations. Be sure to update the calendar as needed and store it in a place where everyone can access it, such as on a co-parenting app.

Take Time Each Day to Connect with Your Child

Take time to meaningfully connect with your child each day after school and encourage open communication. Talk with them about their day and engage in shared activities without distractions. Connecting can also mean eating dinner or reading together — and simply being present. You might also want to plan something so that your child has something to look forward to at the end of each school week.

Set a Designated Time and Place for Homework

With the back-to-school transition comes homework. Set aside a designated time and place each day for homework and studying while factoring in extracurricular activities and family time. Help your child prioritize tasks by identifying and tackling the most urgent ones first. Encourage them to get started with their assignments early and avoid procrastination. Select a quiet space for your child to do their homework where they can concentrate on their assignments and will be free from distractions.

Make Sure Your Child Gets Enough Rest

If your child’s summer schedule was very different from that of the school year, you may need to reestablish their sleep routine during the back-to-school transition. Elementary school aged children generally need 9-12 hours of sleep a night for their physical and cognitive development, according to The National Sleep Foundation. Your child should go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to regulate their natural sleep-wake cycle. Be sure your children put away all electronic devices well before bedtime to avoid any sleep disruptions caused by distraction or blue light exposure.

Prepare for the Next Day in Advance

To reduce stress on school day mornings, establish a back-to-school routine that includes preparing the night before. Continue this routine throughout the school year. Preparing for the next day in advance can include:

• Packing backpacks
• Preparing lunches
• Choosing clothing
• Double-checking all school supplies are packed
• Reviewing any school notifications
• Planning a healthy breakfast

In addition, be sure to set alarms to ensure everyone wakes up in a timely manner — and the stress caused by rushing can be avoided.

Determine School Transportation

Create a detailed plan for transportation for the new school year that outlines each parent’s responsibilities. Decide whether your child will take the bus, be driven, or use carpools. If the child will be driven, establish which parent will drop the child off at school and who will pick them up. Be sure to have a contingency plan in place for unexpected situations such as illness or school closures.

Decide in Advance Who Will Attend School Meetings

Both you and your co-parent should be involved in your child’s education. Decide whether you will attend teacher meetings separately or together. If joint meetings are not feasible, arranging separate meetings with your child’s teacher can give you both the opportunity to express your concerns and receive pertinent information. If you attend separately, share notes with your co-parent about what was discussed to ensure you are on the same page.

Review Your Co-Parenting Agreement

Back-to-school season is the perfect time to review your co-parenting agreement and parenting time plan. Each new school year can bring changing schedules and new routines. As children grow, their needs change and it may be necessary to accommodate new extracurricular activities, academic demands, and their social lives. Importantly, neither parent can simply make changes to an existing parenting plan without the consent of the other or approval from the court. If circumstances have changed and your parenting plan requires an update, mediation can be a helpful tool to amicably resolve the issues that need to be addressed.

Contact an Experienced Utah Divorce and Family Law Attorney

If you and your co-parent need to review or update your co-parenting agreement during the back-to-school transition — or at any other time there is a change in circumstances — a knowledgeable family law attorney can help. Based in Salt Lake City, BartonWood provides compassionate counsel and reliable representation to clients for a wide variety of divorce and family law issues, including those involving parenting plans. To learn more about our legal services and how we can assist you, call 801-326-8300 or contact us to schedule a consultation.