Co-Parenting Holiday Schedule

Short answer: How do co-parents usually split holidays?

Most plans use three patterns: alternate each holiday by odd and even years, split the day itself, or split a school break in halves. Court guides such as Indiana's treat holiday time as overriding the regular schedule. Write exact start and end times and exchange places, and follow any court order first.

Sources: LA Superior Court: Holiday and Vacation Options; Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines. Sources checked 2026-10-19.

Holidays are where an ordinary two-home schedule tends to break down. The regular pattern says one thing, a family tradition says another, and the decision gets made by text the week before. A holiday plan written down once, at the start of the year, avoids most of that.

If you have a court order or a written parenting plan, it comes first. This guide explains common patterns so you can organize the plan you have or talk about options. It is not legal advice and doesn't create or change custody.

The three common patterns

The Los Angeles Superior Court's Family Court Services brochure on holiday and vacation options describes the basic choice as divided or alternated (LA Superior Court: Holiday and Vacation Options):

Alternate by year. One parent has the holiday in even-numbered years, the other in odd-numbered years. It's simple to remember, and each parent gets full holidays, but a child misses that holiday with one parent every other year.
Split the holiday itself. For example, one parent has 9 AM to 3 PM and the other has 3 PM to 9 PM. The LA brochure notes this may suit young children especially. Each parent sees the child every year, but there's a handoff on the day.
Split the break into halves. Common for winter break. Indiana's statewide guidelines split the break from the last day of school into two halves and alternate which parent gets the first half each year (Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines).

Many families mix all three: alternate Thanksgiving, split Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and halve the rest of winter break.

Examples from court guides

These are published defaults and samples, not rules for your family: - Thanksgiving: Indiana's guidelines use 6 PM Wednesday to 6 PM Sunday, alternating by year. The LA sample runs from Wednesday after school until Sunday at 6 PM. - Winter break: Indiana gives each parent half, alternating by year. In the year Christmas doesn't fall in a parent's half, that parent has the child from noon to 9 PM on Christmas Day. - New Year's Eve: the LA sample runs from 6 PM on December 31 to 6 PM on January 1. - Religious holidays: Indiana's guidelines say parents should consider religious holidays and add them when appropriate. The LA sample lists Hanukkah's first and last nights as "to be arranged."

Holiday time usually overrides the regular schedule

Indiana's guidelines state that the holiday schedule takes precedence over regular parenting time. Many written plans work the same way. If yours doesn't say, agree on it in writing before the holiday arrives.

2026 dates to check against your plan

2026 is an even-numbered year. If your plan says "even years," this year's holidays follow that line.
Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26 (5 U.S.C. 6103).
Hanukkah: sundown Friday, December 4, to nightfall Saturday, December 12 (Chabad.org).
Christmas Day: Friday, December 25. New Year's Eve: Thursday, December 31.
Winter break dates come from the school's calendar. Check it now, since "half of winter break" depends on the first and last day.

What to write down for each holiday

The LA brochure's tips include a start and end date and time, the exchange time, and planning return dates so children have time to settle before school. A one-line format works:

Thanksgiving 2026: Parent A, Wed Nov 25 at 6 PM to Sun Nov 29 at 6 PM. Exchange at Parent A's home. Parent B has a video call Thursday at noon.

Also note: - Where the exchange happens and who drives - Travel out of town, and when the other parent gets the itinerary - What happens if the holiday falls on the other parent's regular weekend - Gifts: the LA brochure suggests coordinating gift-giving and helping the child make a card or gift for the other parent

Keeping it about the child

Help the child stay in touch with the other parent during the holiday (a call or a message). The LA brochure lists this as a tip.
Keep schedule talk short, written, and separate from other topics.
Start new traditions in each home rather than competing over the old ones.

Want it on paper? The Two-Home Co-Parenting Planner has a year-at-a-glance, 12 undated monthly calendars with A/B days, a holiday plan page, and handoff and packing checklists.

An organization guide only. Not legal advice. It doesn't create or change a custody arrangement or parenting plan. For those, talk to a family law professional or mediator.

Updated 2026-10-19.