Why you need a child custody calendar
Child custody calendars are vital to keeping a co-parenting plan sane! There are a number of paid calendar apps and free sharing calendar interfaces you can “Google” which range in price from free to about $99.00 per parent, for a quick round up what’s out there read on!
Positives of digital calendar sharing and co-parenting:
- increase ability to share children’s schedules
- share with less conflict
- so convenient, there’s no reason not to communicate!
FREE CALENDARS:
GOOGLE CALENDAR: Google’s calendar allows for the creation of multiple calendars. You can create a “shared” co-parenting calendar with your EX, just by adding each other’s emails. If your children are old enough, you can add in their email as well. To create a Google Calendar you’ll need to use a gmail account. Many schools also use Google Calendar so that comes in handy when the school allows you to “subscribe” to their events.
Pros: Free, easy to use, flexible. Printable
Tip: If you’re not tech savvy, head on over to this tutorial.
COZI FAMILY CALENDAR: Just like the Google Calendar, the Cozi Family Calendar allows sharing with your EX, and others. It also features shopping lists, to do lists and meal planning. So it you are a super organizer – perhaps you should take a look at this one.
Pros: free, fun and easy to use. Printable
Cons: Have to pay for some features and free version displays ads
Tip: Cozi can also be used with Google Calendar, Outlook and Apple Calendar.
PAID CALENDARS:
OUR FAMILY WIZARD: In addition to shared calendar, Our Family Wizard also gives powerful tools to document payment exchanges, reimbursement requests and the reports are detailed and downloadable. It costs about 99.00 per year, per parent. (Children’s subscription is free).
Pros: developed specifically for divorced and co-parenting with conflict resolution in mind. Judges and third party professionals may also monitor the family’s activity.
Cons: Payment required.
Tips: fee waiver programs provided and discounts for military families. If you can afford the yearly payment and you are in a high conflict divorced parenting solution, you may want to explore this option.
COPARENTLY: Similar to Our Family Wizard, coparently is designed with divorce parents in mind. Features include a color coded child custody calendar, expense management tools, and conflict resolution tools.
Cons: payment required
Tips: free 30-day trial is offered. Also free child and professional accounts available with paid parental subscriptions.
Whether you use a paid, free calendar – or even an old fashioned printed organizer, hopefully, increased communication with your EX and with your children will increase everybody’s overall well being.