Top Ten List: Do’s/Don’ts for Comportment While With Your Child During Periods of Possession

1. DO: Make a sincere effort to personally care for your child.

DON’T: Make your child feel like they aren’t important to you by not personally caring for them or having them cared for by a significant other (SO). Generally, don’t have the child babysit a step sibling or your SO’s child.

1. DO: Insure the child attends extracurricular activities in which the child is enrolled/participates.

DON’T: Make the child miss practices, games, campouts, etc. that can set the child back, or worse, be held against them by an unforgiving coach or leader.

3. DO: Talk with the other parent/child about what homework/projects should be begun, worked on or completed by the end of your period of possession, do it and tell the other parent what was done!

DON’T: Return the child to the other parent/school without homework/projects being begun, worked on or completed.

4. DO: Involve your child in plans for activities during periods of possession.

DON’T: Act like it’s a burden to care for your child. Don’t watch TV/play video games incessantly.

5. DO: Report to authorities if you believe your child is being abused, physically or sexually.

DON’T: Ignore significant/unexplained bruising, injuries or a child’s outcry about abuse.

6. DO: Insure the child has their own bed to sleep in at your house.

DON’T: Let the child sleep with you or you and your spouse or SO.

7. DO: Speak positively about the other parent or say nothing at all.

DON’T: Make disparaging remarks about the other parent or allow others to do so.

8. DO: Refrain from what a judge might consider inappropriate behavior for you or you and your spouse or SO while your child is present.

DON’T: Drink excessively, use illegal drugs, view pornography, use profanity or argue with someone.

9. DO: Respect the child’s sensibilities. Dress appropriately.

DON’T: Sleep with a SO during periods of possession. Don’t you/or allow others to be around the child in underwear.

10. DO: Return all clothing, washed if possible, personal items and school work with the child.

DON’T: Keep clothes/personal items the child was sent with.