HandemovaHow to split school holidays fairly (halves, alternate years, Christmas)
There's no single right way. These are the common options and what each one is good at.
| Option | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halves | Each break split in the middle; who goes first swaps each year | Younger kids, equal time | More handovers |
| Alternate breaks | Whole breaks alternate between homes | Travel, longer trips | Long gaps for little ones |
| Normal pattern continues | Your regular schedule just keeps going | Simplicity, older kids | Work leave rarely lines up |
| Week about | Week on / week off through the break | Shift workers | Uneven if breaks are odd lengths |
Special days
Christmas, birthdays and Mother's/Father's Day are often handled separately from the holiday split, for example Christmas Eve to Christmas Day noon in one home, then the other home until Boxing Day, swapping each year.
Tips that reduce friction
- Agree the rule once, in writing, and let the calendar apply it.
- Decide what happens when a break has an odd number of nights.
- Put the handover time on the calendar, not in a message thread.
This is general information, not legal advice. If you have a parenting order or plan, follow it. A Family Relationship Centre (1800 050 321) can help you agree a plan.