Siblings and Time-Sharing
5 Documentaries to Watch on Earth Day
Why Together Is Usually Better
It’s no secret that divorce is a big adjustment for children. The disruption of learning to live across two homes, developing new routines, and adapting to time-sharing schedules can be a struggle. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that children have other constants in their lives to hold on to — including their relationships with their siblings. Siblings often have an intense bond, and separating two children who have grown up together can be traumatic. So, courts are generally very reluctant to split custody. A time- sharing agreement where the children have two different primary caregivers may work out well for the parents, but it’s usually a detriment to the children. In most cases, judges prefer a time-sharing arrangement where siblings spend all or most of their time in the same household. Generally, the same custody agreement will work for multiple children, with only minor adjustments needed. But while they are relatively rare, there are exceptions to the rule. When parents split children between households before a formal time-sharing agreement is in place, the court can be in a difficult position. Judges want to look after the children’s best interests and aim to disrupt their lives as little as possible. Occasionally, separate households also work better for logistical reasons, like attending different schools. And sometimes, older children express a preference for living in separate homes; judges will take this into account. But even then, the court will likely pair this arrangement with time spent together for the children. Barring extremely rare situations where the children are unsafe with each other, fostering these relationships is valuable and has long-term psychological benefits. Further, minimizing the disruption of divorce helps children heal and move forward. Half-siblings and step-siblings may pose additional challenges for a parenting plan. Time-sharing arrangements with a third (or fourth) parent complicate the logistics of ensuring siblings can spend time together. But research shows that children often form equally strong bonds with the other kids in a household, regardless of their biological relationship. The court will consider these interests and make an effort to ensure bonded children have time together. Every child experiencing their parents’ divorce needs reassurance that their family is still their family. Ensuring siblings don’t have a disruption in their relationship with each other is one of the best ways to do so — and provides countless additional benefits.
Share the Facts With Your Whole Family!
Earth Day is coming up on Saturday, April 22. But do your kids know why we commemorate the holiday? Do you? If you don’t know much about the history of environmentalism — or just want to learn more about the state of our planet — consider celebrating Earth Day by watching a documentary as a family. Dozens of fantastic films cover everything from the crusade to preserve our coral reefs to how farmers use soil health to enhance the planet. Here are a few of our favorites. ‘Kids Take Action Against Ocean Plastic’ — This short five-minute documentary from National Geographic follows a group of Hawaiian students determined to clean up their local beaches. It’s available for free on National Geographic’s YouTube channel! (If you watch it and love this documentary, check out the PG-rated flick “Plastic Island ” on Netflix, which tackles the same issue in Indonesia.) ‘Brave Blue World: Racing to Solve Our Water Crisis’ — This PG-rated documentary about water security takes place on five continents and stars celebrities Liam Neeson, Matt Damon, and Jaden Smith. Check it out on Netflix. ‘Extinction: The Facts’ — This hard-hitting documentary from famous nature historian David Attenborough is perfect for kids ages 16 and up. It tackles serious topics like species loss, food and water shortages, and the relationship between climate change and pandemic diseases. “Extinction: The Facts” is available on PBS. org or Prime Video. ‘Kiss the Ground’ — Join actor Woody Harrelson on Netflix for an inspiring look at soil, why it matters, and what farmers and activists are doing to save and enhance it — and our food supply. The documentary is family-friendly and rated G. None of these documentaries existed in 1970 when anti-pollution activists came together to create Earth Day, build the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and pass laws to protect our air and water. But they’re a wonderful extension of that spirit! Hopefully, you’ll be able to find time to watch at least one of them this month. After watching, consider taking action and volunteering for a green project near you.
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