Making Your Holiday Visitation Schedule

Holidays offer a time for family connection. However, things can become more complicated for divorced or separated families. Creating a clear and workable holiday visitation schedule is one of the best ways to reduce conflict and ensure children can enjoy special occasions with both parents.

Continue reading for tips on creating a peaceful holiday schedule and what your legal options are if both parents cannot agree on a schedule.

Why Holiday Visitation Schedules Matter

Holidays often disrupt normal routines. Children are out of school. Families travel more. And special events are also more common. If your visitation schedule isn’t clear during this time, it can be a source of conflict and possible legal trouble.

A well-defined holiday visitation schedule helps avoid last-minute disputes and provides children with predictability during an already busy time of year.

Children benefit most when they know where they will be and when, especially during memorable holidays. Clear holiday schedules reduce anxiety and allow them to focus on enjoying time with family rather than worrying about transitions or parental conflict.

Common Approaches to Holiday Scheduling

There is no automatic way to structure holiday custody schedules.

The following approaches are the most common:

Alternating Holidays

Under this method, parents take turns having the child for the same holiday each year. For example, one parent may have Thanksgiving in even-numbered years while the other has it in odd-numbered years. This approach promotes fairness over time and is simple to manage.

Splitting the Holiday

This works well for holidays that last more than one day, such as Christmas or winter break. The child may spend part of the holiday with one parent and the remainder with the other. Although this option allows time with both parents, it requires careful planning to minimize excessive travel and smooth transitions.

Fixed Holidays

With this option, each parent has the same holidays every year. This method works best when parents have established traditions tied to specific days and value consistency more than rotating holidays.

The option that works best for your situation will depend on your own unique values and goals for your family and children.

Putting the Child First

A holiday visitation should be designed with the child’s best interests in mind. This is how South Carolina courts make custody and visitation decisions, and so should you.

To evaluate the best interest of your child, consider the child’s age, school schedule, travel capacity, and emotional needs. Younger children may struggle with multiple transitions, while older children may want input on how they spend their holidays.

It is also important to recognize that children benefit from maintaining meaningful traditions with both parents. Allowing flexibility for special family events and religious observances can help add meaning to your child’s experience of the holidays.

Formalizing the Plan

Parents shouldn’t wait too long to address holiday schedules. Planning well in advance gives both parents time to coordinate travel, make arrangements with extended family, and resolve disagreements calmly.

Using shared calendars or parenting tools can help keep everything organized in one place. Written schedules can also provide a clear reference if questions arise later. The more detailed the schedule, the fewer opportunities there are for misinterpretation.

Even the best-designed schedule may need occasional adjustments. Weather, illness, or unexpected family events can necessitate schedule changes. Whenever possible, communicate changes in writing and focus on problem-solving rather than blame.

Contact the Rock Hill Child Custody Lawyer at Minor Law Divorce Lawyers for Help Today

If you are working on a holiday visitation schedule and need help, Minor Law Divorce Lawyers in Rock Hill, SC is here for you. Our Rock Hill child custody attorney can help you work toward a fair schedule that honors your priorities for your child and ensures you have ample opportunity for meaningful time together during the holidays.

We proudly serve throughout York County.

Visit our Law Office in Rock Hill, SC

1273 Ebenezer Rd, Suite B,
Rock Hill, SC 29732
(803) 504-0971