The "best" custody arrangement prioritizes the child's needs, focusing on stability, consistent care, and strong relationships with both parents, often evolving with age, starting with frequent, shorter visits for infants (building to overnights) and transitioning to more balanced time as children grow, with joint decision-making preferred and low parental conflict essential for positive outcomes, though specific schedules vary greatly.
Studies overwhelmingly favor joint physical custody, showing that kids in shared arrangements tend to have higher self-esteem, fewer emotional issues, and better academic performance than those in sole custody (Bauserman, 2002).
The biggest mistake in a custody battle is losing sight of the child's best interests by prioritizing parental conflict, anger, or revenge, which courts view very negatively. This often manifests as bad-mouthing the other parent, alienating the child, refusing to cooperate, or involving the child in disputes, all of which signal poor co-parenting and harm the case.
You might be surprised to learn about fathers getting 50/50 custody in Australia. A 2014 survey revealed that children spent equal time with both parents in just 9% of cases. The statistics tell a different story from what most people believe about equal parenting time.
"70/30 parenting" refers to a child custody arrangement where one parent has the child for about 70% of the time (the primary parent) and the other parent has them for 30% (often weekends and some mid-week time), creating a stable "home base" while allowing the non-primary parent significant, meaningful involvement, but it also requires strong communication and coordination to manage schedules, school events, and disagreements effectively.
The 7-7-7 rule is a parenting technique that involves dedicating seven minutes in the morning, seven minutes after school, and seven minutes before bedtime to connect with your child. This approach fosters a deeper, more nurturing relationship. It also creates a more supportive family environment.
Research shows that we don't need to get it perfect—not even close. Dr. Dan Siegel, a leading researcher in child development and co-author of The Whole-Brain Child, has found that parents only need to get it right 30% of the time for their children to thrive.
Still, full custody for fathers is far less common than full custody for mothers. Whether this is due to bias against fathers is a hotly debated topic. Overall, many courts prefer awarding joint custody to both parents. Custody cases don't change much when two dads are at odds.
To apply for full custody, legally termed “sole parental responsibility”, of a child in Australia, you must file an application with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. The Court's primary consideration is always the child's best interests, as set out in the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth).
However, there is no set guidelines for reasonable access for father. Each family is unique and reasonable access for fathers depends on the individual circumstances. Some fathers see their children every day, while others might see them just once a month.
Evidence of Parental Involvement
Some ways to do this might include presenting school records, medical records, or testimony from neighbors, coaches, or friends and family. One of the big points here is to prove that you know how to prioritize your child's needs over your own personal desires and convenience.
The term “unstable parent” can have various interpretations, but generally, it refers to a parent who may struggle with providing a consistent, safe, and nurturing environment for their child.
The "9-minute rule" in parenting, or the 9-Minute Theory, suggests that focusing on three specific 3-minute windows each day creates significant connection and security for children: the first three minutes after they wake up, the three minutes after they return from school/daycare, and the last three minutes before sleep, emphasizing distraction-free, quality time to boost well-being and reduce parental guilt.
Giving 20% of your attention will lead to 80% of quality time spent with your children. Your children crave your attention—not all of it; just 20%. Your attention is split into multiple areas: work, your marriage, your kids, your side hustle.
Young children do best with frequent exchanges, while teenagers can handle longer times apart. Therefore, many experts recommend families with young children start with 2-2-3 and work up to alternating weeks as the children age. "For very young children, we often start with a 2-2-3 schedule," says Zeiderman.
Very often, children feel more connected with a specific parent at a specific stage because they identify with them, or have shared an interest, or because of time spent (either they parent has been around a little more, or they have been around less and they've been missed…
Yes, courts can and do award shared care arrangements to fathers, provided it is in the best interests of the child and safe to do so. Even in cases where communication between the parents cannot be easily facilitated, parenting apps or handover books can be used as a safe tool for communication between contact.
2-2-5-5 Custody and Visitation Schedule Examples. In the 2-2-5-5 residential schedule, your child spends two days with one parent, then two days with the other parent, followed by five days with the first parent, then five days with the second parent.
The most frequently occurring reasons why a custodial parent loses custody include: Child abuse or neglect. Spousal abuse. Drug or alcohol abuse or addiction.
Key messages. About 3% of separated parents use courts as their main pathway to making parenting arrangements (based on a sample of about 6000 separated parents about 18 months after separation). These are predominantly families affected by family violence, child safety concerns and other complex issues.
In addition to consequences like awarding custody or attorney's fees to the non-offending parent, individuals caught lying in custody court may face more severe legal repercussions, including perjury charges. A perjury conviction can result in fines, jail time, or both.
The "3-3-3 Rule" for kids is a simple mindfulness technique to manage anxiety by grounding them in the present moment: first, name three things they can see; next, identify three sounds they hear; and finally, move three different parts of their body. This engages their senses, shifts focus from worries, and helps them regain control when feeling overwhelmed, like during test anxiety or social situations.
The 7-7-7 rule of parenting generally refers to dedicating three daily 7-minute periods of focused, undistracted connection with your child (morning, after school, bedtime) to build strong bonds and make them feel seen and valued. A less common interpretation involves three developmental stages (0-7 years of play, 7-14 years of teaching, 14-21 years of advising), while another offers a stress-relief breathing technique (7-second inhale, hold, exhale).
While parenting challenges vary, research and parent surveys often point to the middle school years (ages 12-14) as the hardest due to intense physical, emotional, and social changes, increased independence, hormonal shifts, and complex issues like peer pressure and identity formation, leading to higher parental stress and lower satisfaction compared to infants or older teens. Other difficult stages cited include the early toddler years (ages 2-3) for tantrums and assertiveness, and the early teen years (around 8-9) as puberty begins, bringing mood swings and self-consciousness.