How to avoid the pitfalls of summer holiday childcare for separated parents

Are you concerned how to manage the summer holidays? Perhaps you are worried about childcare arrangements. With the school holidays fast approaching, you will be aware that there will be challenges of arranging family trips and childcare, a task which can be particularly difficult to navigate when parents are no longer in a relationship.

There are though some key pointers to remember to help navigate the holiday planning and the period itself as easy and enjoyable as possible.

1. Primarily, this is the children’s time to rest and recuperate after a busy year at school, remember they will want to see you both. Try wherever possible to factor in some time so that they are able to relax, holidays periods are not just about fun days and holidays away, all too often children just want to have time at home to rest.

2. Try not to ask the children to make the decision, whilst their voice is important, the children will not want to upset either of you and would prefer you to make decisions for them.

3. Remember the children love you both and want to spend time with you both.

4. Ensure the children can speak with the other parent at any time, as they may well miss the other parent when they are with you, let them know that is a perfectly normal feeling.

5. Stay in touch. If you are taking the children on holiday let the other parent know in advance where you will be, how you will be travelling there, with flight details if applicable, and emergency contact details. When you arrive, let them know you have got there safely and ensure the children can speak to their other parent as often as they wish during the holiday period. Try to put yourself in the other parent’s position, how would you feel?

6. If required, please ensure that arrangements for handing over of passports is completed in plenty of time for the holiday and on return. Again, try not to involve the children.

7. Respect the other parent’s time with the children, it’s important to the children that they have quality time with both of you.

8. Try not to make the holidays a competition between you and the other parent.  The children will hugely benefit from being with you both, it’s not about who can plan the best break or day out.  The children will just want to spend time with you both.

9. Most importantly, take this time to enjoy spending quality time with the children during the holidays!

If you want to find out more about how Stone King’s Family & Mediation Team could support your family please contact Rebecca Eels or Chloe Taylor.