Last updated: September 11, 2026
Divorce can be a complex process. When children are involved, the complexity grows exponentially. The couple, and the legal mechanisms and institutions that facilitate the separation, including divorce solicitors, are bound to favour a solution that’s good for the children. That means keeping stress and conflict to a minimum.
But how does this work during the school holidays? Let’s take a look at some factors that all couples should consider.
Why School Holidays Can Be More Challenging After Separation
If both of you have a normal nine-to-five job, school holidays can pose a significant logistical challenge. Who is going to look after the kids if you can’t? On the other hand, you might find yourself competing for time with the children. If you can both find the time to look after the kids, but you don’t want to (or can’t) do it together, then this might be a source of tension and conflict.
Planning Ahead to Avoid Last-Minute Stress
Holidays tend to inflict more stress when you don’t know how you’re going to deal with them until the very last minute. By working out how you’re going to cope, you can make it easier to make arrangements with other parties, like your place of work. When you’re allocated holiday time at the office, the school holidays might be the first place you choose to spend it – provided, naturally, that you’re able to coordinate with one another.
Using Shared Calendars and Clear Communication
Fortunately, modern technology provides a fairly reliable means of coordinating: the shared calendar application. You can use this as a common point of reference. When the calendar says that a given person has agreed to look after the kids, they take responsibility for doing so.
Of course, a calendar app is just one channel of communication. You’ll also want to keep relations fairly cordial between you and your former spouse.
Managing Overseas Travel and Special Occasions
What if you want to take the kids overseas for a special holiday? Major breaks of this kind are a significant part of growing up. They’re an opportunity for kids to try new things, and to benefit from shared time with their family. But if you have plans to take the kids away, it’s vital that you clear them with the other parent. If you don’t, then you could end up causing a problem.
Keeping Children’s Needs at the Centre of Every Decision
You might feel that the fairest solution is an even distribution of time spent between each parent. But this might not always be what’s best for the child. If one parent simply lacks the ability to really look after the kids, then it might be worth considering how you can lighten the load, and make things workable.
What to Do When Parents Cannot Agree
If you find yourself unable to agree on how to deal with school holidays, then it might be time to bring in an outside mediator, or even to escalate to a full-blown legal dispute. Bear in mind, however, that such a process will often be costly, both in terms of your finances, and the emotional effect that it might have on you and your children.
