In a Child’s Best Interests: Interest and Attitude

In part 3 of this 7 part series, we discuss the Interest and Attitude factor.

Interest and Attitude

This factor asks about how willing a parent is to put a child first in their lives. The court might look at how much a parent schedules their work and travel in a way that maximizes time with a child. This can be hard for some people, as not everyone can tell their employer they can’t work because of their children. However, if such flexibility is an option, the court looks favorably on a parent who makes time for their kids.

The court might also look at how much time a parent spends encouraging a child to engage in extracurricular activities like sports, after school clubs, or church. If one parent is deeply involved and the other is not at all, the court is more likely to look for favorably on the parent who is involved.

In the digital age, a new issue is arising. Parents who are always on their phone or who hand their kids a tablet are increasingly facing scrutiny for failing to show interest in their children. The court will consider a parent’s attentiveness to their children when making decisions about which parent should have custody.

Stay tuned for part 4 for a more in depth discussion about Desirability of Parent and Child Relationship.