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Non-Winter Holiday Child Visitation Scheduling

It can be difficult to come up with holiday accommodations that result in the best interests of a child, while also satisfying the preferences of both parents – especially when a non-holiday visitation schedule already exists. Winter holidays aside, we’ve seen a few of the examples below successfully implemented by parents for their children:

Fourth of July – Independence Day

  • One parent has the period from July 4 to July 5 in odd years and the other parent has the same period in even years.
  • One parent ends up with extra time on or near the holiday (easily used if the other parent already has plans that don’t involve children during that holiday).
  • Midday on July 3rd to midday on July 4th, at which point the other parent has custody for the next 24 hours

Easter Sunday

  • One parent has a period of time from Saturday to Sunday in odd years and the other parent has the same period in even years.
  • If not Saturday-Sunday as above, every other Easter Sunday
  • Or, no change from the usual schedule.

Mother’s Day & Father’s Day

  • Each parent has his/her respective day each year, maybe an extra overnight or weekend tossed in.
  • Or, no change from the usual schedule.

Other Monday and Friday Holidays

  • The parent with the weekend adds the Monday or Friday holiday to the weekend.
  • Each individual Monday or Friday holiday is assigned to one parent in odd years and the other parent in even years.
  • One parent has additional time on all or some of the Monday and Friday holidays.
  • There is no change from the usual schedule.

The idea behind these suggestions is to create a simple, fair schedule that incorporates the schedules of all involved. A combination or variation of the listed examples above can also be successfully applied to any holidays not mentioned.

Common holidays to include in your holiday schedule are:

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day—3rd Monday in Jan
  • Lincoln’s Birthday—Feb 12th
  • Presidents’ Day/Washington’s Birthday—3rd Monday in Feb
  • Spring Break (school dependent)
  • Memorial Day—last Monday in May
  • Labor Day—1st Monday in Sept
  • Columbus Day—2nd Monday in Oct
  • Halloween—Oct 31st
  • Veterans Day—Nov 11th

Other holidays that may be considered:

  • Religious holidays
  • State holidays
  • Days when your child is out of school (teacher prep or unexpected closures)
  • School vacation time (other non-Spring break periods)
  • Each parent’s birthday
  • Other special occasions
  • The child’s birthday: You can schedule a short visit for the parent who doesn’t have the child on the birthday, give both parents birthday time in the schedule, or the parents can alternate yearly.
  • Parents’ Birthdays: The child can spend the day with the parent on that parent’s birthday.
  • 3 day weekend holidays: These holidays include Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day. As mentioned, parents can alternate the 3 day weekends, split the weekends, or give the Monday holiday to the parent who already has visitation during that weekend.

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