IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A PLAN

1. The child's age, maturity, temperament and strength of attachment to each parent.

2. Any special needs of the child and parents.

3. The child's relationship with siblings and friends.

4. The distance between the two households.

5. The flexibility of both parents' work schedules and the child's schedule to accommodate extended access.

6. Childcare arrangements.

7. Transportation needs.

8. The ability of the parents to communicate and cooperate.

9. The child's and parents' cultural and religious practices.

10. A parent's willingness to provide adequate supervision even if the parent has not done so in the past.

11. A parent's ability and willingness to learn basic caregiving skills such as feeding, changing, and bathing a young child, preparing a child for daycare or school or taking responsibility for helping a child with homework.

12. A parent's ability to care for the child's needs.