Now is your chance to see how Kids First! is designed to create a collaborative spirit between parents in order to protect the child, prevent a custody battle, and reduce the stress of change. Kids First! helps parents reduce the confusion and crises of separation, divorce, and co-parenting with relevant guidance, tips, and ideas.

The biggest problems or fear that children of divorce face include: 1) loss of family and familiar home life, 2) anger at one or both parents for causing the loss, 3) helplessness and frustration at not being able to change the situation or return to the old life, 4) watching or hearing parents fight, and 5) responsibility for causing the break-up of the marriage or relationship.

Therefore, it is critical that a parent understands and sympathizes with the child's feelings and worries. If you think about custody decisions from your child's viewpoint, a world that has been so quickly and totally changed, you will make the right decision. Your role as the adult is to help your child through this time to prevent emotional hurt and confusion.

Your child must not only survive but must thrive during this scary time of change. If you do not protect your child from the trauma of your separation, divorce, and custody, your child may well carry these feelings and perspectives into future relationships, perhaps for a lifetime.

To avoid this outcome, both parents must make a commitment to keep your child safe and shielded from disagreements. Each parent must acknowledge to oneself and to the other parent that the emotional and physical health of your child is your first priority. If your child sees emotions, rules, places and people change every day or hour, or sees one or both parents arguing or refusing to cooperate and collaborate, your child may feel unsafe and may suffer significantly.

Kids First! custody agreements address the legal and physical custody of the child, such as health, education, housing, and co-parenting schedules. Kids First! parenting plans deal with those issues in more detail plus many other issues such as religion, communication, safety, travel, childcare/daycare, drugs/alcohol, and approved sports/activities. For example, safe behaviors can be modeled and taught to children, Kids First! teaches common sense safety practices.