When I create a parenting plan, I include the children’s rights so that everyone will remember that the children deserve two parents who can communicate with and respect each other, among other things. Here is what I include in all my parenting plans:

RECOGNITION OF CHILD’S RIGHTS

1. The child has the right to have two parents and to love each without fear of anger or hurt from the other.
2. The child has the right to develop an independent and meaningful relationship with each parent and to respect the personal differences of each parent and each home.
3. The child has the right to be free from being present during the parents’ personal battles or being used as a spy, messenger, or bargaining chip.
4. The child has the right to enjoy the Mother’s family and the Father’s family, to see each of the families as being different from each other, and not to have these differences referred to as “better” or “worse.”
5. The child has the right not to be questioned about the other parent’s private life.
6. The child has the right not to hear parents speak ill of each other, nor to have to hear about the difficulties with the other parent.
7. The child has the right to see his or her parents being courteous to and respectful of each other.
8. The child has the right to develop and maintain age-appropriate activities and friends without fear of losing time with a parent.