Parents Working Together Over The Easter Holidays Is Great For Kids

Parents Working Together Over the Easter Holidays Is Great For Kids

While kids love a visit from the Easter Bunny during Easter holidays, they can also benefit greatly from spending time with both parents.

A child's parents may no longer be together, but children still love to see both mum and dad if possible during traditional family holidays such as Easter.

However, separated parents can be apprehensive about working with their ex-partner to make plans for the kids to spend time with both parents during holidays.

"Initially I was afraid of shared parenting," said one Sydney dad, Mike,* who has been separated and paying child support for more than two years.

"I thought I couldn't do it. I thought 'what am I going to do'? I was very wary of shared parenting, but it's actually easy once you sort it all out," Mike said.

"I know there can be tension between separated couples, but it can be done. It is achievable. You just have to strive for a good working relationship with your ex and have the children's best interest as the primary concern.

"It also helps to have an understanding workplace, which is flexible and can allow you to attend to children's needs like school drop-offs."

Mike's experience has been so successful that colleagues in his workplace have tried to work harder with their ex-partner to arrange to spend time with their children. This Easter Mike will see his children briefly on Good Friday.

Child Support Agency (CSA) General Manager, Matt Miller, said CSA figures indicate that increasing numbers of separated parents are united towards meeting the emotional needs of their children and working together to manage their child support arrangements.

"More than 63 per cent of newly separated parents during the 2007-2008 financial year chose our private payment option because it's flexible and they can cooperate on parenting after separation," Mr Miller said.

"These positive results suggest many parents are working amicably to plan for the care arrangements of their kids."

Mr Miller said parents can establish written parenting plans which include an agreement about the amount of time the children will be in each parent's care.

"A parenting plan is the best way for parents who have significant and regular daytime care to have it recognised in their child support assessment too.

A parenting plan can take any form, but to be a parenting plan under the Family Law Act 1975 it must be in writing, signed and dated by both parents. It must be made free from any threat, duress or coercion

"The publication Me, My Kids and My Ex has a handy guide that may also help when making parenting arrangements. It can be downloaded or ordered online at www.csa.gov.au/publications or call our Publications Hotline on 1800 040 972." he said.

*Name changed for privacy reasons.

ENDS

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
CSA Media Team:
(02) 6272 8367 or email [email protected]

SOURCE: Child Support Agency