New Child-Focused Parenting Time Guide Highlights Parenting Time Considerations for Children of All Developmental Stages

In August 2019, the Minnesota Judicial Branch published the “Child-Focused Parenting Time Guide.” The Child-Focused Parenting Time Guide (“Guide”) was prepared by the Minnesota State Court Administrator’s Advisory Committee on Child-Focused Parenting Time. This new Guide serves to update the “Parental Guide to Making Child-Focused Parenting Time Decisions,” which was originally published in January 1999, and updated again in January 2001.

Since the older guide was originally published, there has been new information and developments regarding child development and parenting time. Based upon this new information, the State Court Administrator’s Office created an Advisory Committee on Child-Focused Parenting Time for the purposes of drafting a revised guide.

View the updated Guide here.

The new Guide identifies several Child-Focused Considerations and details that most children benefit when:

1. Parents support their child’s relationship with the other parent.
2. Parents support consistency in their child’s life.
3. Parents support their child’s activities and friendships.
4. Parents communicate positively with one another.
5. Parents support conflict-free parenting time transitions.

The Guide goes on to provide specific examples of how a child benefits from his or her co-parents being child-focused.

The Guide also illustrates that most children are harmed when:

1. Parents do not support their child’s relationship with the other parent.
2. Parents do not support consistency in their child’s life.
3. Parents do not communicate positively with each other.
4. Parents do not support conflict-free transitions for their child at parenting time exchanges.

Specific examples of both the positive behaviors, and harmful behaviors, are provided on pages 8-10.

Finally, Guide then goes on to provide child development and parenting time considerations for each stage of a child’s development, in addition to how co-parents can best support a child during each developmental stage. Years of work went into drafting this insightful and practical guide, and it is a must-read for co-parents and family law practitioners alike!

For more information about this issue or other family law matter, contact Attorney Amy Sauter at 507-625-2525 or by email.

This webpage contains general information and not legal advice, nor is it an exhaustive representation of its subject matter. It is based on Minnesota law in effect at the time of writing. An attorney at Farrish Johnson can advise you about how the law applies to your specific situation.