Creating a parenting time schedule after a divorce or separation from your child’s other parent can be challenging. Parents must balance their child’s needs, work schedules and personal commitments while working to ensure fairness and consistency.
In Arizona, courts generally emphasize the importance of fostering strong relationships between children and both parents. A well-thought-out parenting time schedule can help achieve this goal while reducing conflict and uncertainty. If you and your ex are trying to determine what kind of parenting time schedule idea may work for you, it can be beneficial to start by assessing the common options outlined below before seeking personalized legal guidance to formalize your choices.
Week-on, week-off schedule
This arrangement alternates parenting time on a weekly basis, providing each parent with extended, uninterrupted periods with their child. This schedule works well for older children who can handle longer separations from each parent and families where both parents live close enough to facilitate school and extracurricular activities.
2-2-3 schedule
With this approach, the child spends two days with one parent, two days with the other and then three days with the first parent. The pattern alternates the following week. This arrangement ensures frequent transitions, making it ideal for younger children who benefit from regular contact with both parents.
Every other weekend with midweek parenting time
This traditional schedule has a child living primarily with one parent and spending alternating weekends with the other parent. To ensure regular contact, the parent with parenting time every other weekend is also entitled (if workable) to one or two midweek periods of time with their child (perhaps for an evening after school).
3-4-4-3 schedule
In this arrangement, the child spends three days with one parent, four days with the other and alternates the next week. This schedule balances time evenly while reducing the frequency of transitions compared to a 2-2-3 plan.
Custom schedules
With all of this said, each family’s situation is unique, and sometimes a custom schedule is the best solution. For instance, parents with non-traditional work hours or families with children involved in demanding extracurricular activities may need a tailored approach. In these cases, working with a skilled legal team can help create a plan that meets everyone’s needs.
