Believe it or not, the 2020-2021 school year will be wrapping up in a little over a month. The summer months can be a time fun for families full of vacations and other exciting activities. However, for children with separated and/or divorced parents, the absence of structure that the school year provides can sometimes cause stress and/or anxiety.
Working with your co-parent can help to prevent any stress that your child(ren) may feel about summer break and the switching up of schedules.
Below are some steps you and your co-parent can take to help ensure a smooth transition from the school year to summer vacation:
Plan ahead – Since your schedule may change in the summer as well, you may need to consider an alternative custody schedule and discuss this with your co-parent. Figure out ahead of time if you will maintain the parenting and visitation schedule, or if one of you will need to make adjustments, like switching up weekends or alternating weeks.
Involve your children – Don’t forget that this is their break from school and something that they look forward to all year. When mapping out your summer parenting schedule, consult with your children to see what they are hoping to do over the summer and work with your co-parent to come up with a schedule that works for everyone.
Be flexible – Things happen all the time that can throw off planned vacations or outings. Co-parents should try to remain flexible so that they can work with one another when things do not go as planned. This can help to avoid conflict and keep the happiness and well-being of your child(ren) the priority.
If you or someone you know has questions about parenting agreements or the sharing of custody during the summer, contact one of our experienced family law attorneys today.