Navigating Summer Parenting Time: 5 Tips for Summertime Success

Summer break brings exciting opportunities for children — and sometimes unique challenges for co-parents. 

School’s out, routines change, and most parents want to plan vacations, camps, or time with extended family. 

A well-thought-out summer parenting plan can make the summer season smoother for everyone involved, minimizing conflicts and maximizing fun.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Starting discussions about the summer plan well before summer break will help avoid last-minute conflicts.
• Building a summer plan around your child’s interests, routines, and well-being ensures a stress-free and enjoyable experience, making transitions between households easier.
• Unexpected changes happen, and parents should try to remain flexible and respectful for the sake of their children.

Without careful planning and clear communication, the summer months can lead to misunderstandings or conflict over summer parenting time. 

Here are 5 tips that can help ensure a fun and stress-free summer.

1. Start Planning Early

The sooner you begin discussing summer arrangements, the easier it will be to work through any scheduling conflicts. 

If you wait until April or May and a conflict arises that requires Court intervention, it is highly unlikely that it will be resolved by the date the trip or activity in dispute is scheduled for. 

It’s best to have these types of discussions with the other parent as early as November or December, which will allow for plenty of time to resolve issues through the Court if necessary.

2. Consider a “First-Come, First-Served” Provision for Conflicting Vacation Requests

Many parenting plans include provisions for vacation parenting time, allocating a set number of vacation days to each parent. 

Some of these plans also include language stating that – in the event of a scheduling conflict or overlapping plans – one parent’s dates will prevail in even years, and the other parent’s dates will prevail in odd years.

While this arrangement does often work, it can also leave the door open for petty conflicts and unnecessary strife between everyone involved.

Instead, it’s often better to implement a “First-Come, First-Served” policy, meaning that the first party to notify the other of the desired vacation dates will be granted their request. 

This reduces the opportunity for pettiness and encourages both parents to plan far in advance.  

3. Prioritize Your Child’s Needs and Be Flexible

What’s best for the child(ren) should be the deciding factor in any situation, and placing their needs ahead of your own is critical.

That said, this can be difficult at times. 

In extremely contentious cases, it can be difficult to say “yes” to the requests of another parent who has routinely denied you in the past, even if such requests were in the best interests of the child(ren). 

This is where being the “bigger person” will be in the best interest of any children involved.  

There may be times when your child(ren) have unique and/or exciting opportunities that their other parent can offer them. 

Whether it’s a last-minute trip to the lake or a summer camp with friends, try to prioritize your children and don’t deny them experiences just because it means that you may miss out on some parenting time.

4. Don’t Share Any Plans with Children Until They’re Finalized

Kids can spend months looking forward to summer vacations, camps, and extended time with friends and family. 

But when plans change, this can be hard for kids to handle.

Avoid setting your child(ren) up for disappointment and do not share plans with them until you have already worked through the parenting schedule and finalized all arrangements.

5. Communicate Clearly and Respectfully

When it comes to plans involving your child(ren), maintain cordial and professional communication with their other parent to prevent misunderstandings and reduce conflict. 

Parents should always communicate directly with one another, rather than using their children as messengers. 

One great way to avoid this is to encourage all parties to use a communication platform such as TalkingParents or Our Family Wizard.

These communication platforms also offer shared calendar features to help everyone stay on the same page with summer camps, activities, and travel.

Questions About Your Parenting Plan? Reach Out to the Law Office of Geigle | Morales for Help

If your co-parent is refusing to follow the parenting plan, conflicts arise about summer parenting time, or your current plan no longer meets your family’s needs, consulting a family law attorney can help you understand your options. 

Proactive legal guidance can resolve disputes and provide peace of mind moving forward.

At Geigle | Morales, our experienced family law attorneys help parents draft and interpret parenting plans, negotiate vacation schedules, and address non-compliance issues if and when they arise.

If you have concerns about your summer parenting time, contact us today to schedule a consultation.