Holiday and Summer Parenting Time Schedules in Kansas

Why Holiday Schedules Need Their Own Section

Your regular weekly parenting time schedule handles the routine. But holidays, summer breaks, and school vacations override that routine — and if your parenting plan doesn't specify exactly how, the override creates conflict. Kansas courts consistently see parents return to court over vague holiday language, and judges have little patience for plans that say "parents will share holidays" without defining what that means.

The parenting plan should include a separate holiday and vacation section that takes priority over the regular weekly schedule whenever a holiday period applies. Specify this explicitly so there's no argument about which schedule controls.

Structuring Holiday Rotations

The standard approach in Kansas custody orders alternates holidays by odd and even years. Here's a common framework:

Odd years — Parent A / Even years — Parent B:

• Thanksgiving (Wednesday after school through Sunday at 6:00 p.m.)
• Christmas Eve (December 23 at 6:00 p.m. through December 25 at noon)
• Spring Break (first half)
• Father's Day / Mother's Day (respective parent regardless of rotation)

Even years — Parent A / Odd years — Parent B:

• Christmas Day (December 25 at noon through December 27 at 6:00 p.m.)
• New Year's Eve and Day (December 31 at noon through January 2 at 6:00 p.m.)
• Spring Break (second half)

Mother's Day and Father's Day typically go to the respective parent every year, regardless of the regular schedule. The child's birthday can alternate, go to the parent who has the child that day on the regular schedule, or be split (daytime with one parent, evening with the other — though splitting a birthday often creates more stress than it resolves).

Specificity Prevents Arguments

Every holiday entry in your plan should define:

• Start and end times — "Thanksgiving" is ambiguous. "Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. after school dismissal through Sunday at 6:00 p.m." is enforceable.
• Who handles transportation — the parent beginning their holiday time typically picks up the child
• What happens when a holiday falls on the regular schedule — does the holiday schedule replace the regular schedule for just the holiday period, or does it shift the entire week?
• Return to regular schedule — state explicitly that the regular schedule resumes immediately after the holiday period ends

Summer Break

Summer is the most common source of post-decree parenting disputes. A good plan addresses:

Extended summer time: The non-residential parent (in a primary-residency arrangement) typically receives an extended block of summer parenting time — often 2–6 weeks. Under the Kansas Child Support Guidelines, if the non-residential parent hosts the child for more than 14 consecutive days, a temporary extended parenting time adjustment may reduce the monthly support obligation by up to 50% for that period.

Notice requirements: Require each parent to submit their requested summer dates in writing by a specific deadline — April 1 is common. If dates conflict, the plan should specify a tiebreaker (e.g., non-residential parent's request takes priority for the first selection, then the residential parent chooses).

Vacations and travel: Define how far in advance a parent must notify the other of vacation travel plans, whether the traveling parent must provide an itinerary and contact information, and whether international travel requires both parents' written consent.

Summer activities: If the child is enrolled in camps, sports leagues, or academic programs during the summer, the plan should address who registers, who pays, and whether both parents' summers must accommodate those commitments.

School Breaks Beyond Summer

Don't forget the mid-year breaks that your school district schedules:

• Fall break / Teacher workdays — typically 1–2 days in October or November
• Winter break — usually two weeks spanning Christmas and New Year's (overlaps with holiday schedule)
• Spring break — one week, timing varies by district
• Three-day weekends — Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day

For shorter breaks (1–3 days), many plans simply follow the regular weekly schedule. For week-long breaks like spring break, splitting the week evenly (first half/second half, alternating years) or giving the entire break to one parent in alternating years both work — the right choice depends on each family's logistics and distance.

The 50/50 Challenge

Parents sharing equal residency (2-2-3, 2-2-5, or alternating weeks) still need a separate holiday schedule. Without one, the parent whose regular time happens to fall on Thanksgiving or Christmas gets the holiday every year by default, which creates resentment and isn't what either parent intended when they agreed to equal time.

The fix is simple: the holiday schedule overrides the regular rotation for the defined holiday period, and the regular schedule picks up where it left off afterward. Both parents lose some regular time during holiday periods, and the alternating-year rotation ensures fairness across time.

The Kansas Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes a holiday scheduling planner with templates for each major holiday and school break, designed to plug directly into your parenting plan with the specificity Kansas courts expect.

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