Holiday Custody Planner
Holidays cause more co-parenting conflict than any other part of the calendar — usually because nothing was agreed until the week before. Set a rule for each school holiday and special day, see who has the children for the next two years, and download it straight into each parent’s phone calendar. Free, no signup, and nothing you type leaves your browser.
2026
2027
Holiday time normally overrides the regular rotation — when the holiday ends, the everyday pattern picks back up. Build the everyday pattern with the free Custody Schedule Calendar Generator.
Why agree holidays separately from the regular schedule?
A regular rotation like 2-2-3 or week-on/week-off answers the everyday question, but it says nothing about Christmas morning, the summer break, or a mid-term week. Those are the dates parents care most about, and leaving them to be negotiated each year is how avoidable arguments start. Setting a simple, written rule per holiday — alternate it, split it, or fix it — removes the annual negotiation entirely: the calendar answers the question before anyone has to ask it.
Once the holiday rules are settled, put them in writing alongside your regular schedule. The free Parenting Plan Builder includes a holidays section that records exactly these rules, and the Custody Schedule Calendar Generator handles the everyday pattern the holidays sit on top of.
Frequently asked questions
How do most separated parents split Christmas?
The two most common approaches are alternating the whole period year by year, or splitting it so the children wake up with one parent on Christmas morning and spend the rest of the break with the other, swapping the following year. The planner models both — set the rule per holiday and compare two years side by side.
Do holidays override the normal schedule?
Yes, in almost every parenting plan holiday time takes priority over the regular rotation, and the everyday pattern resumes when the holiday ends. That is why it helps to agree the holiday rules separately and write them down alongside the regular schedule.
What happens in odd and even years?
Alternating rules are usually anchored to odd and even calendar years so there is never an argument about whose turn it is. The planner shows both the starting year and the following year so each parent can see the swap working before agreeing to it.
Is the output legally binding?
No. It is a planning aid to help you agree arrangements calmly and in advance. Record what you agree in a written parenting plan — the output is not legal advice and does not create a binding arrangement.
This tool provides general information for separated parents in Ireland. It is not legal advice and does not create a legally binding custody or access order. Take independent legal advice before signing or relying on any agreement.
Get the holidays agreed in writing
The free Co-Parenting Starter Kit includes a one-page parenting plan with a holidays section, plus scripts for the conversations that get you there.
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