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Effective Summer Co-Parenting Tips for a Smooth and Stress-Free Season
Co-parenting during the summer takes extra thought. Whether or not you have a formal parenting agreement, it’s important to plan ahead, communicate openly, stay flexible, and keep the focus on what works for your child’s schedule, safety, and emotional well-being. This will help create a more relaxed summer for your children and less stress and angst for you and your co-parent.
Why Summer Co-Parenting Plans Are Crucial for Your Child’s Well-Being
Summer is meant to be a time when children feel relaxed and free. But if parents are confused or in conflict over how to handle parenting time, it can quickly become a stressful season for kids. Added pressure is likely the last thing they need right now. Whether you are just starting the separation process or already have a written parenting plan, the way you handle summer parenting time will make a real difference.
How to Create a Summer Parenting Schedule Without a Formal Agreement
Even if you are still in the process of formalizing an agreement, these are things you can think through and talk about now. Start by thinking realistically about your circumstances.
- Are the kids already signed up for camps?
- What are the weeks they are not in camp?
- When does school end and begin?
- Can you take time off from work, or will the children be with you while you are working?
Given these circumstances, consider what kind of summer parenting schedule makes the most sense. You might alternate having the children with each parent every two or three days, or decide that week-to-week parenting may work better this season. If a parent is working during the week, the schedule can be adjusted to give them more weekend time with the children. The key is to plan ahead and create a clear schedule that works for everyone involved and, most importantly, gives your child the relaxed and enjoyable summer they deserve.
Review and Adjust Your Written Parenting Plan Early for Summer Success
Many parenting plans have agreed upon dates by which the summer schedule is to be set. If you and your co-parent missed the deadline, do not ignore it. Reach out to them and talk about what plans need to be confirmed. A conversation now can help avoid confusion or frustration later.
Even if vacation time was already assigned in the agreement, those dates may no longer work for your schedule. Maybe you were supposed to have the fourth week in July, but now you need the third. Or you may need to shift the start or end date of your vacation time slightly. Instead of changing plans on your own, talk it through. Ask for flexibility and be willing to offer it in return. Giving a little now may come back to you in the future when you need it.
As with all other parts of the parenting plan, being open to changes can set a good tone for future cooperation. Small adjustments can make a big difference in avoiding stress and giving your children a smooth and happy summer.
Open Communication About Safety and Expectations During Summer Parenting
If one parent plans a vacation that raises safety concerns for the other, have a conversation. Maybe your trip includes activities that the other parent considers high-risk, or there are plans to stay overnight in remote areas with no phone service. Instead of brushing off these concerns, be open to talking about them and try to find ways to make the other parent feel more comfortable.
Keeping the child out of the middle is very important. You want to avoid putting your child in a position where they are questioned or made to feel responsible. Open communication between parents is the best way to support a low-stress summer.
Tips to Support Parent-Child Communication When Spending Summer Apart
Summer trips can mean longer stretches away from one parent, which makes regular contact even more important. If you already have a written agreement, stick to the communication schedule. If not, agree on good times for check-ins, perhaps during breakfast or later in the day once the day’s activities are done. If your co-parent and the children know when to expect your call, it’s more likely that the children will be able to focus and properly engage in the conversation with you.
These moments of connection matter. They remind your child that both parents are present, even when apart.
How to Give Your Child a Fun, Relaxed, and Balanced Summer Through Co-Parenting
When co-parents work together to create a thoughtful plan, summer can be a time of connection, fun, and rest for children. A little preparation and flexibility now can make the months ahead much smoother for everyone.
If you are working through these parenting issues, Vacca Family Law Group can help you develop a plan that supports your child’s needs and protects your role as a parent. Contact us today for your free introductory call.
Vacca Family Law Group is located at One Grand Central Place, 60 E. 42nd St., Suite 700, New York, NY 10165.
Andrea Vacca is a Collaborative Divorce Attorney and Mediator with more than 30 years of legal experience. A former President of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals, she is a member of numerous family law and dispute resolution organizations, including the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, the NYS Council on Divorce Mediation, and the Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York. Andrea is also the host of A Better Divorce Podcast, which offers expert insights to help individuals approach divorce with less conflict and more intention.