As Labor Day approaches, many kids in Virginia have returned to school or are preparing to do so. Getting back into the routine of school can be hard for kids as they let go of their freedom and replace it with the structure of daily classes, assignments, and extracurricular activities. However, children who are subject to child custody and parenting plans can find the start of the school year particularly tough when their parents have not worked out the details of their new schedules.

That is because when the school year starts, a child’s needs may change. A child who lives with one parent may struggle to get to school on time if that parent is unavailable to provide them with transportation. A child who has after school commitments may have to change their plans if their schedule interferes with their custodial parent’s ability to pick them up.

As children grow, their needs change, and a child who transitions from one school to another may need more emotional support than they did in the past. Their interests may be better served by a parent who has less custodial time with them under their parenting plan and a change may need to be made to support the child’s requirements.

Parents know their children best and often take proactive steps to protect their needs and promote their interests. It may be beneficial for Virginia families to look at modifications to their custodial and parenting plans to ensure that their children are given the best opportunities for growing and learning during the new academic year.