Planning for Parenting Time: Ohio's Guide for Parents Living Apart

Child Development and Suggested Parenting Schedules
Schedules 4, 5, and 6
include overnights. These
schedules are for parents who:
• Have cared for the child
nearly equally, or
• Both know how to care for
the child overnight, or
• Live close enough to each
other that the child will
not have long car trips
between homes, or
• Can communicate and
cooperate with each other
about the child’s care and
well-being, or
• Have successfully
followed Schedule 3 for a
while.
4
5
6
Schedule 4: Two periods of three to six hours and one
overnight each week. (See a sample schedule on page
15.)
Schedule 5: One period of three to six hours and two
non-consecutive overnights each week. (See a sample
schedule on page 15.)
Schedule 6: An equal parenting time schedule where
the child is not away from the other parent for more
than two consecutive days. (See a sample schedule on
page 16.)
Comment: The use of Schedule 6 requires a high
degree of communication between the parents, a low
level of conflict about how to parent, and work
schedules and living arrangements that limit the
difficulties on the child. Schedule 6 is designed only
for parents who agree on this schedule.
Caution: Research clearly shows that children are at
risk of being harmed if parents argue, act
disrespectfully toward each other, and cannot talk to
each other about their child.
Vacation: Vacations that are much different from the
regular parenting time schedule are not recommended
unless the parents agree.
Holidays: Parents should consider dividing holidays
or special occasions in time blocks similar to their
regular parenting time. The “Holidays, Vacation, and
School Breaks” section on page 53 offers ideas of
what to consider and how to divide holidays and other
special days.
Create your own schedule using the sample form
on page 9.
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