Spring break means no school and fun times with family and friends. However,
vacations can sometimes lead to drama, especially for divorced parents.
In general,
child custody orders determine how school breaks and vacations are handled. But there
are some orders which do not specify this issue, which means parents must
decide who will spend the most time with the kids during their spring break.
The following are several co-parenting tips when the children are on spring break:
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Put the kids first – It’s important to remember that spring break is supposed
to be a fun time for your children and a chance to create lasting memories.
Even if you and the other parent do not get along, you must put your differences
aside to ensure your children enjoy themselves during their time off.
If your children have any suggestions for ways to spend their spring break,
listen and create a plan with the other parent.
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Plan early – Planning ahead avoids any miscommunication and misunderstanding.
You may decide to alternate who spends spring break with the children,
so each parent has an opportunity to have enough time to plan a vacation.
On the other hand, you may decide to share time with the kids.
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Go on vacation – If you plan on taking the kids on a trip, provide the other parent
with an itinerary and allow them to speak with the children anytime they
want to make him/her feel comfortable about the vacation. Send reminders
leading up to the vacation to make sure everything goes according to plan.
If the other parent wants to take a trip with the kids, let him/her! Having
a healthy relationship with both parents has a positive effect on a child’s growth.
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Stay at home – Sometimes, going on vacation is not always possible, especially
if both parents have important work commitments to take care of. If you
and other parent are planning on staying home during spring break, create
a schedule that works for both of you. Determine who will get the kids
each day and what they will do. Fun ideas for a staycation include going
to a special event (such as an art show or movie premiere) and designate
special days (such as movie/pajama day or family cooking day).
If you are interested in modifying a child custody or visitation order
in Daytona Beach,
schedule a consultation with our experienced legal team at the
Law Offices of Robert Stepniak today.