Holiday Custody Split Planner
Plan who gets the kids for every major holiday, alternate year to year with one switch, and see the day counts stay fair. Build a plan you can both actually agree on — then stop arguing about it every December.
Put the plan somewhere both homes can see
A holiday plan only ends the argument when both parents are looking at the same one. CoParent Connect puts your holiday schedule on one shared calendar, logs swaps and travel plans, and keeps every agreement in writing — so next December doesn't start from scratch.
How holiday custody splits usually work
Most parenting plans handle holidays in one of two ways. Fixed holidays: the same parent always gets the same holiday (for example, Parent A always gets Thanksgiving, Parent B always gets Christmas). Alternating holidays: who gets which holiday flips every year — A gets Thanksgiving in even years, B in odd years. Alternating is the most common approach because it keeps things fair over time, and it's exactly what the toggle above does.
Why "split" holidays are worth using
The big ones — Christmas, Thanksgiving — are the holidays both parents want most. Instead of trading whole holidays, many families split them: one parent gets Christmas Eve, the other Christmas morning, or Thanksgiving Day goes to one and the long weekend to the other. Kids get both homes on the holiday itself, and nobody "loses" Christmas entirely. Use the Split option above for any holiday you want to share.
Put it in writing before the season starts
Holiday fights almost always start with "I thought we agreed..." Agree on the plan in October, write down the pickup times and locations, and share one calendar both homes can see. A plan made calmly in fall beats a negotiation held the week of Christmas.
→ Read our full guide to building a custody calendar that works