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.