Summer should be a time for children to relax, make memories, and enjoy a break from school. For divorced or separated parents, however, summer brings new logistical challenges. Coordinating custody schedules, childcare, summer camps, vacations, and holiday weekends can become overwhelming. Fortunately, with open communication and advance planning, summer conflicts can be avoided.

One of the reasons summer creates conflict is that the structure of the school year disappears. Parents have to coordinate camp schedules, family vacations, holiday weekends, sports and work obligations, all while continuing to comply with their existing custody order. If your custody order simply follows the regular school-year schedule, it may not provide enough guidance to address these seasonal challenges.

Consider planning vacations with the other parent before registering for summer camps.  Every year, I see parents enroll their children in summer camp, only to find out later that the camp schedule conflicts with the other parent’s vacation.  Unfortunately, many camps charge non-refundable registration fees or deposits, leaving parents to either lose money or reschedule vacation plans.

Instead, parents should discuss summer vacation plans early in the year.  Once both parents know when vacations will occur, those weeks can be placed on a shared calendar before anyone registers for camps or childcare. This simple step often saves families hundreds or even thousands of dollars in forfeited camp fees.

Planning early is especially important because many of Montgomery County’s summer camps begin accepting registrations in January or early spring, and reach capacity long before school lets out. Local YMCA camps, township recreation programs, and specialty camps often fill quickly, particularly for younger children during popular weeks. Parents who wait until Spring to discuss summer schedules may find that the camps they want are already full.

Summer childcare requires planning beyond camp registration. Consider who will care for the children before camp begins each morning, who will pick them up when camp ends, and what arrangements will be made during weeks when camp is not in session. It is also helpful to discuss backup plans for unexpected camp closures, illnesses, or changes in work schedules. Addressing these issues before summer begins can eliminate last-minute disagreements.

Holiday weekends deserve special attention as well. Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day often interrupt the regular custody schedule. A well-drafted custody agreement should clearly explain that holidays take priority over the regular schedule, what time exchanges occur, and whether holiday custody may extend a parent’s normal custodial time. When custody orders leave these details unclear, misunderstandings and conflict may follow.

While planning activities, parents should also remember that children need more than a full calendar. Summer should include opportunities to relax, spend time with friends and extended family, and simply enjoy being children.

Once camps have been selected, both parents should receive complete information about the child’s schedule, including the camp location, dates, daily hours, emergency contacts, and pickup procedures. Sharing this information ensures that both parents remain informed and can participate in the child’s activities, regardless of whose custodial time the camp falls within.

Parents should also discuss childcare expenses before committing to a program. Many Pennsylvania support orders require parents to share work-related childcare costs, but disagreements frequently arise when one parent registers a child for an expensive camp without consulting the other. Having a conversation beforehand about appropriate camps, anticipated costs, and reimbursement responsibilities can prevent unnecessary disputes later.

Using a shared electronic calendar is another effective way to reduce conflict. Whether parents use OurFamilyWizard, Google Calendar, or another platform, maintaining one calendar that includes vacation weeks, camp schedules, holiday exchanges, medical appointments, sports, and other important events helps ensure everyone is working from the same information.

If you are negotiating a new custody agreement or modifying an existing one, it is worth taking the time to create detailed provisions addressing summer schedules. A comprehensive agreement should establish deadlines for exchanging vacation dates, explain how vacations affect the regular custody schedule, address summer camp registration and childcare decisions, and clearly define transportation responsibilities. The more specific the agreement, the less likely parents will find themselves returning to court over avoidable scheduling disputes.

Ultimately, successful summer co-parenting is not about being rigid. It is about creating a schedule that works for the entire family while keeping the children’s best interests at the center of every decision. With early planning, open communication, and thoughtful scheduling, parents can spend less time arguing over calendars and more time helping their children enjoy everything summer has to offer.



If you are creating a custody agreement, modifying an existing order, or experiencing disagreements over summer schedules, camps, vacations, or childcare, obtaining legal guidance before conflicts arise can save both time and expense. A carefully drafted custody order can provide the flexibility families need while reducing uncertainty and minimizing future disputes, allowing parents, and more importantly, their children, to enjoy a less stressful summer.