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Competency With Basic Parenting Skills And Tasks

Evaluators aren't looking for "super parents" but they do want to see that you're capable, competent, and knowledgeable when it comes to typical childcare and parenting skills.

During a custody evaluation you must demonstrate that you have superior parenting skills and ability to care for your child. The more proficient you can show yourself to be, the better. Evaluators aren't looking for "super parents" but they do want to see that you're capable, competent, and knowledgeable when it comes to typical childcare and parenting skills.

A competent parent will have a 'core' set of skills that enables them to accomplish the tasks required to properly care for a child, such as the examples in the list below. This list is by no means complete, but should serve as a brief guide to the basic kinds of parenting activities you should be concerned with (and participating in) as an involved parent. (Note that some of the list items apply more to very young children than to older children or teenagers.)

Clothing and Hygiene:
  • Buying your child size- and season-appropriate clothes
  • Teaching your child how to get himself dressed
  • Washing and cutting your child's hair
  • Helping your child to learn to brush their teeth
  • Teaching your child how to wash and practice proper hygiene
  • Showing your child how to make their bed and keep their room clean
  • Putting your child to bed, reading bedtime stories

Child Development:
  • Reading to your child regularly, preferably every day
  • Taking your child to museums, places of interest, sports activities
  • Taking your child out to play or playing with child inside
  • Celebrating holidays and social events with your child
  • Teaching your child manners and respect for others
  • Providing discipline as needed- the right amount at the right time
  • Encouraging the child's socialization
  • Calming your child when he/she is upset
  • Teaching your child problem solving skills

Home and Social Life:
  • Buying the groceries and supplies for your home
  • Cooking appropriate meals for your child
  • Doing dishes and cleaning chores, doing laundry
  • Setting television, video-game, and play rules
  • Planning and arranging birthday parties for your child
  • Buying gifts for parties your child may attend
  • Taking child to visit his/her friends and arranging for friends to come visit

Medical Care:
  • Tending to minor cuts, scrapes, and bumps
  • Caring for your child when he/she is sick
  • Taking your child to doctor and dentist appointments
  • Managing any long-term care issues your child has
  • Being aware of your child's current overall health
  • Being aware of child's allergies and adverse reactions to medicines
  • Scheduling child for regular checkups and physicals

School:
  • Choosing appropriate school/pre-school and classes
  • Filling out school papers and records
  • Consulting with teachers and other school staff
  • Taking to and picking up your child at school and/or pre-school
  • Taking off work every year for the first day of school for your child
  • Attending all school events for your child
  • Helping your child with homework and monitoring progress

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Use of this website does not constitute a client/attorney relationship and this site does not provide legal advice.
If you need legal assistance for divorce, child custody, or child support issues, seek advice from a divorce lawyer.