As summer comes to an end, parents everywhere can take a collective sigh of relief as their kids return back to school. All the late nights, vacation getaways, summer programs, and anything else you did to keep them occupied will now be replaced with a monotonous school routine - and most parents couldn't be happier about it.

But parents who are in the middle of a family crisis don't have the luxury of relaxing. Going through a divorce or putting a new child custody agreement in action can surely put a damper on the excitement that the back-to-school season brings. And if your current parenting plan doesn't cover your child's school schedule, things can get tricky.

Perhaps you have a child that you just enrolled in school, or you realize that your current agreement isn't in any way sustainable while your child is in school. It's important that you create a detailed agreement that covers all aspects of your child's education, including how things will operate in summer, school, and during the holidays.

If you're in this predicament, you likely have concerns about this upcoming school season. We'll answer these questions for you in this article.

Which Factors Are Considered When Making a Custody Schedule?

Every possible aspect of your child's education should be considered to ensure a plan put in motion runs smoothly. But here are a few major features you should definitely consider:

• Your child's age, maturity, and preference: If your child is old enough to form a logical opinion, you should hear them out. The transition will be smoother if they feel like their voice is being heard versus just being dictated where to go.
• After-school routine: After-school care will definitely cut into the parenting time of one or both parents, so this aspect should be accounted for when designating quality time. It's important that your child's life doesn't drastically change, so making sure that they stay in extracurricular activities and hobbies is recommended.
• Picking up, dropping off, and daycare: If your child's school lets out before you get off of work, daycare is an option. But daycares have allocated pick up times that may result in late fees if they aren't honored. To keep this from happening and to prevent any confusion, it is best to address who will pick up and drop off the kids from school every day.

How Can We Prepare?

Drafting a parenting plan for the school year requires honesty. This means having a realistic idea of what is plausible given both of your schedules. For example, if your work schedule is always unpredictable or you often work late, it may be in the child's best interest for the other parent to care for them during the school week.

Pennsylvania Family Law Attorney

Facing the school year can be difficult in the middle of a child custody dispute. Our Family Law Team has extensive experience helping parents draft a detailed parenting plan that works. If your custody arrangement needs to be modified or you're going through a divorce, contact the LLF Law Firm online or by phone at 888-535-3686.