As the school year ends, parents who have a parenting time plan have to figure out how the schedule will change during the summer. Ideally, this will be done well in advance of school ending if your children will need childcare while you have them because babysitters and daycares may fill quickly.
There are several things that you should consider as you venture into the summer months with your children. One of the first things you should do is review the parenting plan and the summer parenting time schedule to determine exactly when you will have your children.
Extracurricular activities
Some extracurricular activities don’t follow the school schedule. Because of this, you’ll have to ensure that your children have suitable transportation to get to those activities when they’re with you. If you and your ex live in the same area, working together for transportation throughout the summer may make the situation easier for everyone involved.
Vacation scheduling
Planning a vacation with a parenting time schedule can be complicated. In some cases, the vacation may take precedence over the standard summer schedule. You still need to find out if the dates of the vacation will affect the other parent’s summer plans with the children. Compromise can go a long way when you and your ex are trying to work out these plans so the children can enjoy the whole summer and the activities that are happening.
Some child custody orders have restrictions about where the child can travel. There may be a clause that requires permission from the other parent or the court. If that’s the case, you need to obtain the necessary authorizations in writing prior to making plans or taking the child out of the stated area.
It can be challenging to get a parenting plan for summer set. Working with someone familiar with how these arrangements work may be beneficial.
