If you wish for your child to attend an extra-curricular activity, it is so important that both parents are fully on board with the activity and the commitments that come with it. Keep note of the activity schedule in order to decide which a parent can be available to take the child. This would also ensure the activity does not unfairly take from any quality time between one parent and the child.
If your child really wants to do an activity but it doesn’t fit with your current schedule, consider how you can be flexible to accommodate the commitment. You may find it useful to share the travel, costs or offer to care for any other children while the other parent takes the child to the activity.
Sign up to any available mailings or apps related to the activity to ensure you remain up-to-date with any news, changes, or requests from activity leaders. Both parents can then positively engage with the child and make arrangements more efficiently.
Particularly for sporting activities, if children do not attend training, they may not get selected for the team. If the child doesn't want to attend on a particular occasion, listen to their reasoning and decide together. Do you both agree that they shouldn’t go, or should the child be positively encouraged to attend?
Extra-curricular activities typically come with additional kit (ie costumes, sports kits or instruments). On handovers, ensure that the child has everything they need to attend their activity. This can help avoid unnecessary stress, anxiety and worry for either parent or the child.
We appreciate that for parents that are recently separated there will be a period of adjustment. For those that have been separated for some time, yours and your children's commitments will change over time. Things won't always go to plan but, where possible, parents need to be able to work together. It is in the children's best interests to see both parents cooperating to ensure that their child's interests and talents are nurtured.