HandemovaWeek-on/week-off vs 2-2-5-5 vs 2-2-3: which pattern suits your kids?
Every pattern is a trade-off between time apart and the number of handovers. Here's how the common ones compare over two weeks.
| Pattern | Two-week shape | Longest time apart | Handovers / 2 weeks | Often suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week on / week off | 7 nights, then 7 nights | 7 nights | 2 | School-age kids, homes close together |
| 2-2-5-5 | Fixed weekdays each, alternate long weekends | 5 nights | 4 | Kids who like the same weekdays every week |
| 2-2-3 | 2, 2, 3 nights, flipping each week | 3 nights | 6 | Younger children |
| Alternate weekends + midweek | One home has most nights; the other has every second weekend and a midweek night | about 6 nights | about 6 | When one home is the school base |
| 1st, 3rd and 5th weekends | Weekends follow the calendar month, not a 2-week cycle | varies | varies | Plans written around "weekends of the month" |
Children's needs change with age. Many families start with shorter blocks for little ones and move to longer blocks later.
Handemova supports all five, and you can add one-off swaps on top without touching the base pattern.
General information only. Talk to a family dispute resolution practitioner or lawyer about what fits your family.