When you are creating a parenting-time schedule after separation, you may assume that keeping your children on the same schedule will make things easier and feel fairer. But children within the same family can have very different needs, routines and relationships with each parent. A schedule that works well for one child may create unnecessary challenges for another.
Here are some considerations when different schedules could make sense for your family.
Siblings can have different parenting time schedules
You do not necessarily need to follow the same parenting-time schedule for every child. Pennsylvania custody decisions focus on each child’s best interests, which means the schedule can account for individual circumstances rather than requiring siblings to spend exactly the same amount of time with each parent.
Pennsylvania courts consider several factors when determining custody and developing a schedule that serves a child’s best interests, including:
- Physical, emotional and developmental needs
- Educational needs
- Special needs
- Relationships with siblings and other family members
These factors give the court room to consider why one schedule might work better for one child than another while still looking at the family’s circumstances as a whole.
Different schedules can reflect each child’s needs
Age, school demands, activities and special needs can all affect the schedule that works best for you and your children. For example, an older child with a demanding school and activity schedule might follow a different weekday arrangement than a younger sibling.
Separate schedules can also give you more opportunities for one-on-one time with each child. Instead of always spending parenting time together as a group, you might have individual time to focus on each child’s interests and needs. That arrangement could also help reduce feelings that siblings must compete for your attention after a separation.
Different schedules can still preserve sibling relationships
A different schedule does not mean you should overlook the bond between your children. You can build overlapping parenting time into the arrangement so siblings still have regular opportunities to spend time together, even when some of their individual parenting time differs.
At the end of the day, the goal is to have an arrangement that supports each child’s relationship with both parents and with their siblings.
Different schedules can change as children grow
A schedule that works for your children now may not fit their needs several years from now. Changes in age, school, activities or other circumstances can affect how much structure or flexibility each child needs.
Build a schedule that fits each child
Different parenting-time schedules can give each child an arrangement that fits their needs while preserving meaningful time with siblings and both parents. If you are considering separate schedules, reviewing your proposed arrangement with an attorney can help you understand how Pennsylvania custody factors apply to your family’s circumstances.
