Holiday Rotation Calculator: Split Holidays Between Co-Parents Fairly
Holiday planning is where most co-parenting schedules fall apart. Without a clear, pre-planned rotation, every December becomes a negotiation. The good news: once you set up a holiday rotation, it runs on autopilot for years.
The alternating-year approach (most common)
This is the simplest method and works for most families:
Even Years — Parent A
- Thanksgiving
- Winter break (Dec 20 – Jan 2)
- Mother's Day (if it falls on a regular weekend)
Odd Years — Parent B
- Thanksgiving
- Winter break (Dec 20 – Jan 2)
- Father's Day (if it falls on a regular weekend)
Non-negotiable holidays
Some holidays should always go to the relevant parent, regardless of the rotation:
- Mother's Day — always with Mom
- Father's Day — always with Dad
- Child's birthday — split (morning with one, afternoon with the other) or alternate years
- Valentine's Day — alternate years
Sample full-year holiday rotation
| Holiday | Even Years | Odd Years |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Parent A | Parent B |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Parent A | Parent B |
| Valentine's Day weekend | Parent B | Parent A |
| Spring Break | Parent A | Parent B |
| Mother's Day weekend | Mom | Mom |
| Summer break (July 1-15) | Parent B | Parent A |
| Father's Day weekend | Dad | Dad |
| Labor Day weekend | Parent A | Parent B |
| Thanksgiving | Parent A | Parent B |
| Winter break | Parent B | Parent A |
| Child's birthday | Split (am/pm) | Split (am/pm) |
Tips for smooth holiday planning
- Plan the full year in January. Don't wait until December. Map out every holiday, school break, and family event at the start of the year.
- Build in exchange days. If Parent A has Thanksgiving and Parent B has winter break, decide who picks up and drops off on the exchange day.
- Be flexible with make-up time. If a holiday falls on a regular custody day, offer make-up time in the next rotation.
- Use a shared calendar. SplitDay lets you block out holidays and school breaks for the entire year at once.
- Write it in the agreement. Don't rely on memory. Put the holiday rotation in your custody agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should holidays be planned?
Plan the entire year's holidays at the start of each year (January). This gives both parents time to arrange time off work, plan activities, and avoid last-minute conflicts.
What if a holiday falls on a regular custody day?
The holiday schedule overrides the regular schedule. If Parent A normally has the child on a Monday that's Thanksgiving, Parent B gets that day per the holiday rotation.
Plan holidays for the whole year in minutes
Block out holidays, school breaks, and family events for the entire year in SplitDay. Both parents see the same schedule.
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