Summer Break Planning for Divorced Families

 Posted on May 22,2017 in Parenting Time (Visitation)

Summer break is just around the corner for children in school. While this is normally a happy family time, it can be a shock for children whose parents have recently divorced:

• Spending more time at home may remind them that their family has broken up;
• Family summer traditions may be changed or eliminated; and
• Summer parenting time schedules can greatly vary from the regular schedule.

Parents entering the first summer after a divorce may need to change the normal summer routine to prevent their children from getting the summertime blues.

Dealing with Absence 

Divorced parents often have a revised parenting time schedule during the summer months. They can take advantage of the schedule flexibility by planning for the children to have extended visits with each parent. The children can spend weeks rather than days with the parent they do not normally live with. However, it may be the first time that the children will go weeks without seeing the parent that they live with. If you are anxious about being separated from your children, you should remember:

• Mentioning the positive aspects of the visit to your children will help them feel better about the separation;
• Extended visits are less hectic for the children because they are not moving between parents as much; and
• The summer may be the best time for the children to develop their relationships with the other parent.

Plan for Fun

When your children are staying with you during the summer, keep them busy by scheduling activities for them:

• Make time to have fun together. Take them to a park or movie. Play games or go out for ice cream.
• When you cannot be with them, figure out other activities they can do. See if there are any local day camps, or plan a visit with a relative.
• Use your vacation days at work so you can go on a trip. Visit a traditional family vacation spot or find another place to start a new tradition with them.

Individual Time

While you can plan group activities for you and your children, you should also spend one-on-one time with each of them. This is especially important if there is an age gap between your children. A teenager may not like the same activities as his or her younger siblings. Talk with your teen to figure out what he or she wants to do. Teens’ interests can seem to change suddenly if you are not the parent who lives with them during the school year.

Summer Schedule 

Making last second changes to your summer parenting schedule can be difficult, especially if the agreement is less than two years old. A DuPage County family law attorney with Calabrese Associates, PC can discuss your options for adjusting your parenting time. Call 630-393-3111 to schedule an appointment.

Source:

https://www.ourfamilywizard.com/blog/divorce-and-summer-break