Tennessee Parenting Time Schedules: 2-2-3, Alternating Weeks, and More

Choosing a parenting time schedule is one of the most consequential decisions in a Tennessee custody case. The schedule you agree to determines not just when your child is with each parent — it directly affects child support calculations through Tennessee's day-counting system.

Equal Time (50/50) Schedules

2-2-3 Rotation

Each parent gets two consecutive days, then the other parent gets two days, then the first parent gets three days. The pattern flips the following week so both parents get equal time.

Best for: School-age children (ages 4–12) who benefit from frequent contact with both parents. Works well when parents live in the same school district.

Watch out for: Frequent transitions can be disruptive for very young children. Both parents need to live close enough for mid-week exchanges.

2-2-5-5 Schedule

Parent A gets Monday–Tuesday every week. Parent B gets Wednesday–Thursday every week. Weekends (Friday–Sunday) alternate. Each parent gets five consecutive days every other week.

Best for: Parents who want consistency on weekdays. Children always know which parent they're with on school nights.

Alternating Weeks (7-7)

The child spends one full week with each parent. Exchanges happen on the same day each week (typically Friday after school or Sunday evening).

Best for: Teenagers who need longer blocks of uninterrupted time for homework, part-time jobs, and social activities. Also practical when parents live farther apart, since it minimizes exchanges.

Watch out for: Seven days away from a parent can be difficult for children under age 6.

Unequal Schedules

Standard Every-Other-Weekend (80/20)

The ARP gets every other weekend (Friday evening to Sunday evening) plus one midweek evening visit. Tennessee's guidelines reference this as a baseline minimum for the ARP.

Day count: Roughly 68–80 days per year for the ARP, depending on whether midweek overnights are included.

Extended Weekend (70/30)

Similar to the standard schedule but the ARP gets every other weekend from Thursday evening to Monday morning, plus the midweek visit. This pushes the ARP closer to 92 days.

Why 92 matters: Under Tennessee's child support guidelines, an ARP with 92 or more days per year qualifies for a parenting time credit that reduces their support obligation.

Holiday and School Break Schedules

Tennessee parenting plans must include specific holiday allocations. Common approaches:

Alternating years: Parent A gets Thanksgiving in even years, Parent B gets it in odd years. Christmas is split — one parent gets Christmas Eve through Christmas morning, the other gets Christmas afternoon through December 26.

Fixed holidays: Each parent always gets certain holidays (one parent always takes July 4th, the other always takes Labor Day). Works when specific holidays carry cultural or family significance.

Summer breaks: Typically divided into extended blocks (2–4 weeks each). Many plans give the ARP the majority of summer to compensate for less time during the school year.

Spring break usually alternates annually. Teacher in-service days and school holidays follow the regular weekly schedule unless specified otherwise.

Supervised Parenting Time

When safety concerns exist — documented abuse, substance abuse, or untreated mental health conditions — the court may order supervised parenting time. This means a third-party supervisor must be present during all visits.

Supervision can be provided by a court-approved professional facility, a trained individual, or sometimes a trusted family member. Supervised parenting time is typically temporary, with a clear path to unsupervised time if the parent completes required programs (substance abuse treatment, anger management, counseling).

Exchange Logistics

Your parenting plan should specify exact exchange details:

• Location: A neutral public place (school, police station parking lot, community center) reduces conflict. Many plans use school as the exchange point — one parent drops off, the other picks up.
• Time: Specific clock times, not "evening" or "after school."
• Transportation responsibility: Who drives for each exchange.
• Late arrivals: A grace period (typically 15–30 minutes) and what happens if a parent doesn't show.

Matching the Schedule to Your Child's Age

The right schedule depends heavily on your child's developmental stage. Infants and toddlers generally need frequent short visits (several times per week for a few hours each) that gradually build to overnights. School-age children do well with structured mid-week schedules. Teenagers benefit from longer blocks and some flexibility to accommodate their own social lives.

The Tennessee Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes a schedule comparison worksheet that maps each option against your family's circumstances — work schedules, school location, the child's age — and calculates the exact parenting-day count for child support purposes.

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