Planning for Parenting Time: Ohio's Guide for Parents Living Apart

Child Development and Suggested Parenting Schedules
It is challenging to create parenting schedules for this age group because
each family’s circumstances are unique. It is especially important for
parents to be flexible when creating a parenting schedule with a teenager.
When parents agree, a flexible schedule may work best for a teen, as
long as the parents are able to work together with little conflict and the
teen spends time with each parent. In this case, teens can plan their
schedule based on their activities and social lives. The amount of time
they spend at either parent’s house is due to the teen’s interests, not a
preference for one parent over the other. Having “No Schedule” may be
an acceptable alternative that does not favor one parent and yet still
allows the teen to have a schedule that supports his or her life. The fact
that there is no schedule should not undermine the parent-child
relationship.
This also is when children may talk about a desire for a home base
because of the growing importance of their own friends and activities.
Both parents can increase contact through regular attendance at the
child’s athletic, performance, academic, or other activities. This allows
for a large amount of parental involvement in activities important in the
child’s life.
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