Parenting Tips: Co-Parenting Tips for the Holidays

By Carly Silva

Managing shared custody can be tricky all of the time, and the holiday season only adds to the chaos. Trying to share your children’s time with your co-parent is essential for making the holidays the the best they can be for your kids.

If you’re in need of some parenting tips for managing shared time with your children this holiday season, check out these essential co-parenting tips for the holidays!

1. Plan ahead: One of the most important parts of managing the holiday season with a co-parent is to make sure you plan ahead and stick to it. Make a schedule for each holiday, and let your children know the plan so that there is nothing to argue or be upset about come the holidays.

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2. Coordinate your gifts: If you’re celebrating a holiday that involves gift-buying, make sure to communicate with your co-parent to coordinate your gifts. This will help you to avoid repeat gifts and will let the children know that you both worked together to get their gifts.

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3. Put your kids first: Another important thing to remember is to always remember what the children would want during the holidays. Avoid conflict, especially for their sake. Having a flexible schedule and making compromises will help make the holidays run smoothly and be enjoyable for the children.

4. Don’t be afraid to start new traditions: When co-parenting during the holidays, it can be difficult to accept that the holidays may not be going the way you had always planned. Especially if you and your co-parent have split recently, or if this is your first holiday season having to co-parent, don’t be afraid to try new traditions and accept that things aren’t the same as they used to be. You can even get your children to be excited about the new traditions, too.

5. Take advantage of time for yourself: If you and your partner have decided to share holidays, or if you have a schedule where you alternate years, you may find yourself spending some holidays on your own. Instead of missing your children during these times, try taking advantage of the you-time. Use this time to catch up on self-care, or even spend the holiday with friends or extended family.

What are some other co-parenting tips for the holidays? Start a conversation in the comments down below!