Parenting Time Schedules

Parenting time is the scheduled time a non-custodial parent can spend with a child. There are a variety of parenting time schedules that can be set up by a family, and the schedules can be as different as the families who use them.

Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Plan

• the child’s age, maturity, temperament and strength of attachment to each parent
• any special needs of the child and parents
• the child’s relationship with siblings and friends
• the distance between the two households
• the flexibility of both parents’ work schedules and the child’s schedule to  accommodate  extended  access
• childcare arrangements
• transportation needs
• the ability of the parents to communicate and cooperate
• the child’s and parents’ cultural and religious practices
• a parent’s willingness to provide adequate supervision, even if the parent has not done so in the past
• a parent’s ability and willingness to learn basic care-giving skills such as feeding, changing and bathing a young child, preparing a child for daycare or school or taking responsibility for helping a child with homework
• a parent’s ability to care for the child’s needs

Model Parenting Plans for Birth to Age Three from the 2001 Maricopa County Parenting Guidelines

The following is from the Maricopa County Parenting Guidelines from 2001. These are located online at http://www.azlawhelp.org/documents/ModelParentingTimeGuide.pdf.

Additional guidelines may be found at http://www.azcourts.gov/portals/31/parentingTime/PPWguidelines.pdf

Birth to 12 Months

Infants learn at a rapid rate. They are learning to love and trust familiar caregivers. Infants learn to attach to parents and others through consistent, loving responses such as holding, playing, feeding, soothing, talking gently and lovingly and meeting their needs promptly. They begin to respond to the different (but equally valuable) types of parenting mothers and fathers provide.

Infants cannot retain experiences over time, so it is important that they have frequent contact with both parents and a predictable schedule and routine. But infants can retain “emotional memories” of conflict that can have long-term negative effects, so parents should not argue when children, even infants, can overhear.

By six months, infants can recognize their parents and other caregivers and may become uneasy around strangers. Regular caregivers are able to recognize their signals for food, comfort, and sleep. When away from them, infants may become anxious and may experience eating and sleeping problems.

At this young age, it is important to maintain the infant’s basic sleep, feeding and waking cycles. Schedules should be adjusted so that disruption does not occur. For example, in creating access plans for this age group, parents should consider the special needs of breast-feeding infants.

Plan A(1): Three periods of 3-6 hours, spaced throughout each week.

Comment: Frequent contact helps the parent and child bond.

Plan A(2): Two six-hour periods spaced throughout each week.

Comment: This plan is helpful when the parents’ work schedules or  their  levels  of  conflict  make  more  frequent  exchanges difficult. Because there are only two visits each week in this plan, bonding between the parent and child may proceed more slowly and the child may experience some difficulty going from one parent to the other.

Vacation: Time blocks that vary significantly from the above are not recommended.

Holidays: When holidays or special occasions like Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and birthdays do not fall on a parent’s access day, parents should consider dividing them consistent with the time blocks noted above.

Plan B: Two three-hour periods and one eight-hour period spaced throughout each week.

(See Plan A above for Vacation and Holidays)

Plan C: Two periods of three to six hours and one overnight each week.

Vacation: Presuming that Plan C overnights have been ongoing, parents may have three consecutive overnights, weekend or midweek, twice each year. Each parent shall give the other parent thirty days written notice of vacation plans and an itinerary of travel dates, destination and places where the child or parent can be reached.

Holidays: When holidays or special occasions like Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and birthdays do not fall on a parent’s access day, parents should consider dividing them consistent with the time blocks noted above.

12 to 24- Months

One- to two-year-olds are becoming more aware of the world around them and the people who are frequently in contact with them. A baby at this age can be attached to many caregivers including grandparents, other extended family members, daycare providers, babysitters and family friends who are frequently in contact with the child.

One- to two-year-olds are also becoming independent and are developing the ability to comfort themselves by thumb sucking or holding onto favorite blankets or toys. Their sleeping and eating schedules are also becoming regular. They continue to respond to the different (but equally valuable) types of parenting mothers and fathers provide. Two-year-olds commonly test parental limits (“terrible twos”) and appropriate parental responses can build the child’s self-esteem for years to come.

Transitions between homes may become difficult for some one- to two-year-olds and they may become upset at these times. Some resistance to exchanges is normal for some children. This behavior does not necessarily mean that the other parent is not a good parent or that the child does not want to be with the other parent. Parents can make exchanges easier for the child by following predictable schedules and by supporting the child’s relationship with the other parent.

Plan A(1): Three periods of three to six hours spaced throughout the week.

Comment: frequent contact helps the parent and child bond.

Plan A(2): Two six-hour periods spaced throughout each week.

Comment: This plan is helpful when the parents’ work schedules or their levels of conflict make more frequent exchanges difficult. Because there are only two visits each week in this plan, bonding between the parent and child may proceed more slowly and the child may experience some difficulty going from one parent to the other.

Vacation: Time blocks that vary significantly from the above are not recommended.

Holidays: When holidays or special occasions like Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and birthdays do not fall on a parent’s access day, parents should consider dividing them consistent with the time blocks noted above.

Plan B: Two four-hour periods and one eight-hour period spaced throughout each week.

(See Plan A above for Vacation and Holidays).

Plan C: One daytime period of three to six hours and two non- consecutive overnights each week.

Vacation: Presuming that Plan C overnights have been ongoing, parents may have one period of three consecutive overnights, midweek or weekend, with children 12 to 18 months olds. After the age of 18 months, parents may have two one-week periods separated by at least four weeks. Each parent shall give the other parent thirty days’ written notice of his/her vacation plans and an itinerary of travel dates, destination and places where the child or parent can be reached.

Holidays: When holidays or special occasions like Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and birthdays do not fall on a parent’s access day, parents should consider dividing them consistent with the time blocks noted above.

24 to 36 Months

Ages two to three are an important time for children to develop independent skills. Although children this age are learning to be independent, they may still cling to their caregiver and resist separation. They may be negative and say “NO!” to parents’ requests and demands just to express their independence. They may also be fearful about unfamiliar activities and objects. Predictable, regularly scheduled routines help children manage their fears and help them learn that the world is a safe place. Moving between parent’s homes may become difficult for children at this age and they may become upset. This behavior does not necessarily mean that the other parent is not a good parent or that the child does not want to be with the other parent. Parents must ensure that the transitions between the two parents’ homes are free of parental arguing and tension.

Plan A(1): Two three- to four-hour periods and one eight-hour period spaced throughout each week.

Vacation: Time blocks that vary significantly from the above are not recommended.

Holidays: When holidays or special occasions like Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and birthdays do not fall on a parent’s access day, parents should consider dividing them consistent with the time blocks noted above.

Plan A(2): Two periods of three to six hours and one overnight each week.

Vacation: Presuming Plan A(2) overnights have been ongoing, parents may have two one-week periods separated by at least four weeks. Each parent shall give the other parent thirty days’ written notice of his/her vacation plans and an itinerary of travel dates, destinations and places where the child or parent can be reached.

Holidays: When holidays or special occasions like Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and birthdays do not fall on a parent’s access day, parents should consider dividing them consistent with the time blocks noted above.

Plan B: One period of three to six hours and two non-consecutive overnights each week.

Comment: Ideally a child this age should not be separated on a regular schedule from either parent for longer than three days.

Vacation: Presuming that Plan B overnights have been ongoing, Use Plan A(2) vacation plan above for this age group.

Holidays: See Plan A(2) Holidays above for this age group.

Plan C: One period of three to six hours and two consecutive overnights each week.

Vacation: Presuming that Plan C overnights have been ongoing, use Plan A(2) Vacation plan above for this age group.

Here are some popular parenting time schedules.

Parenting Time Schedules for Non-Custodial Parent

Situation #1: The children are with the non-custodial parent every-other weekend. (In this sample, Mom is the non-custodial parent.)

Situation #2: Dad is the non-custodial parent. The children are with Dad every other weekend from after school/work on Friday until Sunday at 6 p.m. or Monday when they return to school. Also, Dad has parenting time every Wednesday after school until bedtime or Thursday when they return to school. All other times, the child is with Mom.

Common Joint Schedules: 50-50 Parenting Time

A 5-5-2-2 Schedule

This schedule is popular when parents want the children on a set schedule during weekdays. For instance, one parent has the children every Monday and Tuesday and every other weekend Friday through Monday. The other parent has the children every Wednesday and Thursday and the alternate weekends. This schedule is helpful when a child has dance or soccer the same day every week, that way one activity does not intrude on the other parents’ schedule. If five days is too long to be away from one parent, sometimes the parents provide each other an evening during the other parents’ five-day parenting time, such as Wednesday from 4-7 p.m.

Sample 5-5-2-2 schedule (Week 1, Week 2, and then repeat.)

A 3-2-2-3 Schedule

This plan can be used when a child is too young to not see a parent for 5 days.

Sample 3-2-2-3 Schedule (Week1, Week2, Week 3, and Week 4)

Every Other Week Schedule (or Week On, Week Off Schedule)

Every other week is another popular schedule. You will need to determine when the week starts and ends and who picks up the kids where. The children are with one parent for seven days and then with the other parent seven days.

Sample of every other week schedule