PARENTING TIME SCHEDULES

I am often asked by clients to suggest ways in which parenting time can be shared between parents. The conventional wisdom is the younger the child the more frequently the child needs to have contact with both of their parents. Where a week on/week off arrangement may work well for a child who is older, a younger child needs to see both of their parents more frequently.

Sometimes this can be accomplished by shorter visits with the other parent in the middle of the scheduled parenting time. An example of this is having the child for the afternoon and returning the child to the other parent after dinner. Another way is for both parents to attend the child’s activities together during the day regardless of whose parenting time it is.

Five common parenting time schedules are as follows:

Note: P1 = Parent 1; P2 = Parent 2

2-2-2-2

The child goes back and forth between each parent’s home every second day. This would only work well for a very young child.

3-2-2-3-2-2

4-3-3-4

5-2-2-5

The advantage of the 5-2-2-5 schedule is that if you start the rotation on a Wednesday, the weekends are then alternated between the parents and each parent knows that they are responsible for the child on either Monday and Tuesday or Wednesday and Thursday every week so that they can plan activities for the child on these days.

7-7

This schedule works well for older children as there are fewer transitions and it is less disruptive for the child.

Each of the schedules has advantages and disadvantages. Often the parents’ work schedules will determine which schedule works best for the family.