As summer quickly approaches, now is the time for co-parents to begin planning for the months ahead. Summer break can mean a welcome change of pace for children, but it also presents unique challenges for parents navigating shared custody or parenting time arrangements.
If you co-parent with your ex, trust that proactive, respectful planning can help to prevent last-minute stress and help everyone enjoy a smoother, more enjoyable summer as a result.
What does your parenting plan say?
Start by reviewing your current parenting plan or custody agreement. Many plans include provisions for holidays, vacations and extended summer parenting time. Be sure to understand how time is supposed to be divided, what notice requirements exist for travel and whether there are any deadlines for submitting summer schedules or vacation requests.
If your plan does not clearly address summer or if this will be your first summer as co-parents, it’s important to communicate early. Waiting until May or June to make decisions can lead to conflict, scheduling issues or even the need for court intervention.
Thoughtful and flexible (when appropriate) approaches to coordination
Summer often features attendance at camps, vacations, extended family visits and extracurricular activities. Co-parents should aim to coordinate these plans with one another in a cooperative and child-focused manner. If both parents want to schedule vacations, try to balance the time equitably and work to ensure that transitions are smooth for the children.
While summer is a break from the academic year, children still benefit from stability. Try to keep consistent bedtimes, routines and expectations between households when possible. At the same time, remember that flexibility and goodwill can go a long way, especially when unexpected opportunities or changes arise.
If your co-parent needs to adjust their schedule, being accommodating now may make it easier to reach an agreement in the future when you need the same courtesy. Communicating your plans early and clearly—not just with each other, but also with your child—can help reduce anxiety and allow kids to look forward to summer events with greater confidence.
