Co-parenting via technology? These days, there is a technology for any occasion, including co-parenting applications. Co-parenting has its challenges, even when going through an amicable divorce. Before you track your children’s whereabouts under one roof but there are now two households involved in events, appointments, and other activities. This may complicate things.
Even if the parents communicate, it is easy to forget about something. Many times, when there is a strain in the communication between the parents, discussing the children’s needs can be difficult and contentious. Parents are reliving their bitterness instead of looking out for their children’s best interests.
Enter modern technology. Co-parenting apps smooth the way to improve parental communication. The winner in this scenario will always be the children. This Co-parenting apps help keep critical information in one place that is available to both parties.
The one thing children need the most is a sense of security. When parents argue over events and schedules, it affects the children negatively. A co-parenting app can bring stability and security into children’s post-divorce lives.
What Does A Co-Parenting App Do?
A co-parenting app keeps everyone organized and honest. It eliminates arguments such as, “You were going to pick her up from dance class.” “No, you were going to do it.” If those arguments sound familiar, a co-parenting app has the solution. When the correct information is input, it keeps both parents in sync, whether they are being petty or merely forgetful. Indeed no more excuses.
These apps keep track of appointments, sporting events, field trips, upcoming tests, and any other activities involving the children. One tremendous advantage of a co-parenting app is that since the information is visible to all parties, it becomes virtually impossible for one parent to “accidentally” schedule an event during a time that has already been taken by the co-parent.
Who Is Allowed Access To The App?
Another helpful feature of the parenting apps is that many allow other people to participate in the information. This can include grandparents, sitters and caretakers, and the attorneys for both parties. A lot of information is being made public, but at times, this can smoothen the road of co-parenting. The apps will also send users reminders of upcoming activities to prevent anyone from being caught by surprise.
Additional Helpful Features
The co-parenting apps not only track activities, but they share relevant documents, from homework schedules to doctor’s notes and insurance information. This means that both parents know when homework is due and what health decisions were made while the child was with one of the co-parents.
A Co-Parenting App Can Keep Parents Honest
Whether by accident or design, messages between co-parents can get lost or overlooked. This usually results in “I didn’t get the text,” or “You didn’t send the email,” type of arguments. Co-parenting apps keep track of messages and will indicate whether the messages were read. However, both parents must utilize the app. If only one parent inputs information, the app can become useless.
What Are Some Of The Best Co-Parenting Apps?
Our Family Wizard
From my experience, this app is what most judges in Miami-Dade County, Florida recommend. This app, the creation of an actual divorced couple, has a custody schedule and tracks parenting time and expenses. It can also suggest resources, such as a therapist, if you need one. The scheduling features could be more user-friendly. The cost is just under $100, and it is easy to use. It does come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Talking Parents
From my experience, this app is what most judges in Broward County, Florida recommend. It has a free and paid subscription. In cases where parents get along well, Talking Parents can be used to document important conversations, clarify agreements, and solidify decisions. In high conflict circumstances, Talking Parents is used by parents o communicate Any message, call, or calendar event can be downloaded or ordered as a Certified Record and used in court litigation.
Cozi App
This is not specifically a co-parenting app, but it can share calendars and other important information, as well as create a shared to-do list to ensure that both parents have the same expectations. It even keeps records of recipes, so that the children can have their favorite meals at both homes. It serves as a user-friendly organizer. The app has a free version that includes ads, and a version without ads for $29.99 a year.
Coparenta
This app has a calendar feature and can schedule appointments and track messages. The app is working on implementing financial tracking features. Each calendar can be printed in a different color to keep them sorted. Coparenta is available at an annual subscription rate of $99.00.
WeParent
WeParent manages the custody schedules and appointments. It allows parents to add others to the app. Contact, photos, and documents can be organized from the app. WeParent comes with a 14-day free trial period. The app is available monthly for $9.99. There have been reports of errors with this app.
Famcal App
This is a family app for all members of the family. Every member can share in the calendar, events, tasks, and schedules. Each family member has his or her color code. Of course, we can strictly use it as a co-parenting app. The cost of the app is $23.99 annually (or $4.99 per month). There is a free version of the Famcal App, but the user needs to pay for features such as birthday reminders, shared contacts, and to view the monthly text view.
2houses
A sophisticated co-parenting app with advanced calendar and expense tracking. It lets parents share photos and videos when the children are with the co-parent. This allows constant communication with the children – regardless of which house they are in. The 2houses app is free on a 14-day trial basis. The annual cost is $77.88.
Custody Connection App
This app has a shared calendar and a coordinated custody schedule. It has a helpful feature that lets parents request a switch or trade of custody days. This app records acceptance or rejection of the request, thus avoiding arguments while automatically updating the joint calendar. The Custody Connection App is free for 30 days. The cost is $9.99 annually. Potential problems with this app is that it is only available on iPhone, and customer service can be difficult to reach.
Coparently
Coparently has a shared calendar, medical information, contacts, expenses, and documents. We can also add the children to the app, which allows direct communication between parent and child. Both parents receive a separate bill each month. The app is free for 30 days. The cost is $99 annually.
Parentship App
The Parentship App has a shared custom calendar and keeps track of documents and expenses. There is a one-month free trial period. The cost is $24.99 annually.
CoPilots
CoPilots has a shared calendar, parenting schedule, messenger, journal for the children, and photo sharing. It tracks meetings and messages. Parents can add other adults to the app. The app is available free for 30 days. The annual fee is $49.99
TimeTree App
The TimeTree App places everyone’s calendar on the app. This makes planning family, school, and work events easy. Co-parents can chat through the events calendar. We can also use this app as a business tool to track inventories. One version of the app is free with ads, but the ads may become a nuisance.
MyMob
MyMob features a shared calendar, contact storage, schedule management, and space for random notes (complete with profanity filter), and a virtual fridge to post artwork and pictures. This app is free. This may not be the best co-parenting app for conflicting parties.
Appclose
This app has the features of other co-parenting apps, and it is FREE. At this point, we can improve its user-friendliness.
Google Calendar
The Google Calendar is not specifically a co-parenting app. However, we can implement its necessary features.
Conclusion
While co-parenting through technology may be the wave of the future, children should also witness their parents communicate civilly in person. So, while using the new apps can ease some of the burden of co-parenting and help both parties avoid accidental mistakes, it does not replace person to person contact.
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