The same goes for attendance, and to a lesser extent performance in extracurricular activities. Again, most judges wouldn't want to admit that they consider this, but it matters how the child would live. If Dad can offer the child his own room and Mom would put him on a hideaway bed in the den of the double wide with his cousin Fred, Dad's going to have the inside track. This sometimes work to the disadvantage of the parent who lives in a less wealthy area. It may not take a village to raise a child, but aunts, uncles, and grandparents sure can help.
Judges pay attention to that.
The Child's Preference Below age seven, most judges don't want to hear anything about the preferences of a child and may have a negative response to the parent who attempts to make a child state them. At age 14 or above, it becomes difficult for a judge to ignore the preferences of a child. Between the ages of 7 and 14, judges seem to apply their judgment about the maturity of the child.