What's Inside This Guide?
Our child arrangements planning worksheet includes:
- How to use this worksheet Step-by-step guidance for completing each section
- Worksheet 1: Living and contact Where children live and time with each parent
- Worksheet 2: Holidays and special occasions School breaks, birthdays, celebrations
- Worksheet 3: Communication and decisions How parents will work together
- Worksheet 4: Practical details Handovers, reviews, and contingency plans
Why Use a Structured Worksheet?
Child arrangements involve dozens of decisions. Without a structured approach, it's easy to miss important details or leave grey areas that cause conflict later.
This worksheet is used by professional mediators to help parents think through every aspect of co-parenting, from the everyday routines to edge cases like illness or holidays.
- Break down complex arrangements into manageable steps
- Consider all the details that matter to children
- Create clarity and reduce future disputes
- Have a written plan both parents understand
- Adapt and refine as children grow
Creating Child-Focused Plans
The best parenting plans put children's needs first. That means considering their ages, school commitments, activities, friendships, and relationships with both parents.
Plans that work long-term are flexible enough to adapt as circumstances change, but clear enough that everyone knows what's expected.