The holiday season is often filled with excitement, family traditions, and long summer days. But for separated families, it can also bring a layer of stress. Balancing parenting arrangements, travel plans, extended family commitments and children’s expectations can feel overwhelming without a clear plan.

The good news? With early communication, flexibility, and a child-focused mindset, the summer holidays can be a positive and memorable time for everyone involved.

Here’s how to navigate the festive season with confidence and care.

1. Start the conversation early

Christmas and the school holidays are two of the busiest periods of the year. Planning early helps reduce misunderstandings and ensures children know what to expect. If you have parenting orders, review them together so everyone understands what the arrangements mean in practice.

If you don’t have formal orders in place, try to reach agreement well ahead of time. Early discussions can cover:

• Christmas Day and Christmas Eve arrangements
• handover locations and times
• travel plans
• family events or cultural traditions
• school holiday activities and care.

Putting the children first will always guide you toward the right outcome.

2. Put agreements in writing

Once plans are agreed upon, write them down. This could be in a shared calendar, email, parenting app, or text message, whatever works best for your co-parenting style.

Written arrangements help:

• set expectations
• reduce last-minute confusion
• provide clarity if emotions run high
• support smoother handovers for the children.

It doesn’t need to be formal; it just needs to be clear.

3. Be flexible when you can

Sometimes Christmas doesn’t go exactly to plan, relatives fall ill, flights get delayed, a child becomes unsettled, or unexpected opportunities arise.

If both parents remain flexible, compassionate, and open to compromise, it becomes much easier to navigate the unexpected. Remember that Christmas isn’t just about one calendar date, it’s about creating meaningful experiences with your children.

If one parent celebrates Christmas Day, the other parent might choose Boxing Day or another special day during the holidays to create their own magic.

4. Keep the children at the centre

For children, Christmas is about joy, connection, and a sense of security. They thrive when their parents handle arrangements calmly and respectfully.

You can support your children by:

• sharing plans with them once confirmed
• reassuring them that they’ll have special time with both families
• avoiding conflict during handovers
• encouraging them to embrace celebrations in each household.

Simple predictability can make a world of difference to a child’s emotional wellbeing.

5. Plan travel and handover logistics carefully

The summer holidays often involve interstate trips, family visits, or time at the coast. Make sure you:

• provide travel details to the other parent
• confirm pick-up and drop-off arrangements
• check whether written consent is required for international travel
• consider the child’s age and tolerance for long trips.

A little organisation goes a long way in keeping holidays on track.

6. Prepare for the Courts’ Christmas closure

The Federal Circuit and Family Court has set closure dates over Christmas and New Year. If you have urgent issues or unresolved parenting disputes, seek advice early so you are aware of your options.

If matters become urgent during the closure period, some pathways remain available for high-risk situations, and our team can guide you through what may apply in your circumstances.

7. Remember: it’s okay to create new traditions

Separation can mean the end of familiar Christmas routines, but it also opens the door to new traditions that are uniquely yours. These could include:

• a Christmas Eve picnic
• a beach morning
• matching pyjamas
• Movie marathons
• a “second Christmas” on a different day.

Children often love the novelty, and it reinforces that two homes can both feel special.

8. Seek support if you need it

Christmas can be emotionally charged. If organising parenting arrangements feels overwhelming or communication with your ex-partner is strained, you’re not alone.

Our team can help with:

• reviewing your holiday arrangements
• helping you understand parenting orders
• providing advice on resolving disputes
• supporting you with urgent matters during the holiday period.

The summer holidays should be a time of connection, rest, and joy for your children. With clarity, collaboration, and child-focused decision-making, separated families can create meaningful traditions that carry warmth well beyond the festive season.

If you need guidance on your holiday parenting arrangements, travel consent, or Christmas scheduling, the team at Parker Coles Curtis is here to support you every step of the way.