How to Co-Parent during Back-to-School Season

woman helping child do homework at table
Jul 26, 2021 | Sara Khaki

The start of the new school year is just around the corner, and now is the time to begin planning. If you and your co-parent are both involved in your child’s upbringing, this can be a difficult process. Coordination and collaboration between you and your co-parent are necessary while preparing your child for a new school year. It’s critical that your child feels supported by both parents at this time. Here are some pointers to help make the transition back to school as comfortable as possible for both you and your child.

Build a Structured Schedule

Creating a structured schedule not only helps parents keep track of their children’s activities, but also offers them a sense of security. It helps kids and their parents manage themselves, allows them to know where they’re expected to be and when. While this routine should be dependable but flexible, parents’ jobs and other obligations can make this difficult to accomplish.

Have Strong and Consistent Communication

Weekly communication should be established to keep both parents informed on their child’s academics, health, and social developments. This communication should be frequent and regular. Separate household parents can communicate more easily thanks to texting, emailing, and apps like Talking Parents and Our Family Wizard.

Be Attentive during Homework

The most important thing is to be there for your child whenever they need your help with something, including homework. When your child lives with you, you should sit down with them and help them with their schoolwork. This will demonstrate to them that you are available to support them in all aspects of their lives, not just education. It is also advisable to attempt to plan your child’s schooling with your co-parent.

Be Present for School Activities

Attending important school events together with your co-parent is crucial for your child’s growth and development. However, if you and your co-parent have a high-conflict relationship or if the court has issued a no-contact order, this may not always be feasible. When you and your co-parent are able to sit down at school orientation, parent-teacher conferences, or any other significant function on behalf of your child, it is much more successful and beneficial for their well-being. This is preferred over one co-parent attending and delegating responsibility.

Try Keeping Separate Backpacks

Having a separate backpack for each parent to send homework and forms in can be a great way to keep the child from being responsible for the shift from home to home. This way, the parent is responsible for ensuring that the bag reaches the other parent, relieving the children of the burden.

Contact the Atlanta Divorce Law Group

We understand that co-parenting is not easy. Each family and child is different and will require different strategies. Before school starts, try out these few suggestions to figure out what works best for you, your child, and your co-parent. The attorneys at the Atlanta Divorce Law Group have the compassion and skill to advise you on the best co-parenting practices after divorce. Contact us to learn more.


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