With a young child, start a round robin story or letter. This can help younger children feel comfortable writing. Joint Custody Vicki Lansky reports in her Divorce Book For Parents that joint custody is becoming a more common form of parenting. In 1980 only three states accepted joint custody. 38 states through legislation and the other through Supreme Court case precedent or attorney general rulings.
Joint custody seems to work best with older children who can handle moving between homes.
Younger children need a sense of security which can be hard to create in a joint custody arrangement. The starting point is to create open communication between both parents. Decide on house rules. Keep house rules as consistent as possible between homes. Decide on allowance.