Summer: two and a half months that can turn into an organisational nightmare
The summer holidays are the longest school-free period of the year for children. From mid-June to mid-September -- nearly three months that need to be planned, divided and filled with activities. For any family, that is a logistical challenge. For separated parents with shared custody, it is a challenge that requires planning, communication and, very often, endless patience.
Who keeps the children in July. Who keeps them in August. What happens if one parent wants to take them abroad. Who pays for the summer camp. What happens when work schedules do not align with the agreed weekly rotation. These questions come up every year and, if they are not addressed in advance, they can turn the summer into a constant source of conflict.
According to data from the Consejo General del Poder Judicial, claims related to custody and visitation arrangements increase significantly in the months leading up to summer. Many of those disputes could be avoided with early planning and a clear set of rules.
Summer should mean fun and rest for your children, not arguments between their parents. With the right tools, you can plan three months of holidays without any adult losing their patience.
How to divide summer holidays
The division of summer holidays is usually defined in the parenting agreement or in the custody order. However, agreements set only the general framework -- the specific details need to be negotiated each year. These are the most common arrangements.
Half and half
The simplest model: each parent has the children for half of the summer holidays. Typically, one parent takes July and the other takes August, alternating each year. It is a clear, easy-to-understand arrangement that gives each parent a long, uninterrupted period with the children.
It does have its drawbacks, however. If one parent can only take work holidays in August, a July-August split may not work every year. And for young children, a full month without seeing the other parent can feel like a long time.
A common variation is to divide each month into two fortnights and alternate them. The child then spends fifteen days with each parent in July and another fifteen days with each one in August. This is more balanced, though it requires more handovers.
Alternating weeks
Another common model is to maintain the alternating-week schedule throughout the summer, just as during the school year. The child spends one week with each parent on a rotating basis.
This system has the advantage of ensuring the child does not go too long without seeing either parent. However, it complicates long trips and can be exhausting for families who live in different cities.
Year-by-year rotation
Some agreements establish that in even-numbered years one parent chooses their holiday period first, and in odd-numbered years the other parent chooses first. This system provides flexibility for planning trips, visiting distant relatives or organising special experiences, but it requires that the choice be communicated with sufficient notice.
Typically, the agreement sets a deadline for communicating the chosen dates -- for example, before 1 May. If your agreement does not specify this, it is advisable to agree on summer plans before April. The earlier you do it, the less chance of conflict.
Whatever the model, the key is to have it reflected in an up-to-date shared custody calendar, where both parents can see the exact dates, handovers and plans for each period.
Summer travel: what the law says
Summer holidays often include trips, and when parents are separated, travelling with children has legal implications that are worth understanding.
Domestic travel
In Spain, either parent may travel within the country with the children during their custody period without needing the other parent's authorisation. No permission is required to take your children to the beach, to the grandparents' village, or to any destination within the country.
What is advisable -- though not legally required -- is to inform the other parent of the destination and leave a contact phone number. This is not about asking for permission; it is about maintaining the courtesy and transparency that benefits everyone, especially the children.
International travel
Here the situation changes significantly. To travel abroad with a minor, the parent needs:
- The child's passport: Obtaining one requires the consent of both parents or a court order.
- Authorisation from the other parent: Although it is not always required at border controls within the European Union, it is strongly advisable to carry a signed authorisation. Outside the EU, many countries require it as a matter of law.
- Advance notice: Most parenting agreements require the parent to inform the other of the destination, dates and accommodation details with a minimum notice period, typically between 15 and 30 days.
If the other parent refuses to authorise the trip without a justified reason, you can apply for judicial authorisation. However, this process takes time, so plan well in advance if you are considering international travel.
It is worth noting that retaining a minor abroad without the other parent's consent may constitute the criminal offence of international parental child abduction, governed by the Hague Convention. This is a serious matter that always requires transparency and good faith.
Summer camps and activities
Summer camps -- whether day camps or residential -- are a common solution for covering the weeks when parents are working and children are not in school. Under shared custody, the decision to enrol a child in a summer camp must be agreed upon jointly.
Who decides
Just as with extracurricular activities during the school year, summer camps are a decision that affects the child's education and leisure time and must therefore be made jointly when both parents share parental responsibility.
You cannot enrol your child in a summer camp during the weeks that belong to the other parent without their consent. Nor is it reasonable to enrol them in an expensive camp during your weeks and expect the other parent to pay half without prior consultation.
How to organise it
The recommended process is:
- Identify the weeks you need to cover with a camp or other activity.
- Research options: day camps, residential camps, sports activities, language courses.
- Present the options to the other parent with all the relevant information: dates, timetable, location, cost and what is included.
- Agree together on the option and how the costs will be shared.
- Complete the registration and record the expense as a shared cost.
If your parenting agreement classifies summer camps as an extraordinary expense, you will need the other parent's explicit consent before assuming they will pay their share.
The child has a say too
Depending on the child's maturity, their opinion about how to spend the summer should be taken into account. A fourteen-year-old has their own plans, friends and preferences. Forcing them to go to a camp they do not want to attend, or on a trip that bores them, can create more problems than it solves.
Listen to your children, adapt the plans where possible, and remember that summer is their time to rest too.
Tools to keep everything organised
Managing three months of summer across two households requires a system. WhatsApp messages get lost, phone calls are forgotten and spreadsheets do not send reminders. When communication with your former partner is difficult, every message can turn into an argument.
Niddo lets you manage the summer holidays using the same tool you use during the school year:
- Shared calendar: View the division of weeks, planned trips, summer camps and handovers. If anything changes, the change is proposed and logged.
- Summer expenses: Camps, trips, activities, supplies. Every expense is documented with its receipt, and the app calculates the balance between both parents.
- Centralised communication: A dedicated space to discuss the summer logistics without mixing in personal matters. Ideal for sharing flight information, hotel bookings or camp details.
When everything is organised in one place and both parents have the same information, misunderstandings and arguments are reduced.
Planning the summer in April is an investment of time that saves you weeks of conflict in July. Don't leave until June what you can organise in spring.
Three months of summer, zero drama
Summer holidays under shared custody do not have to be a source of stress. With early planning, respect for the parenting agreement and the right tools, you can organise a summer in which your children enjoy themselves, rest, and spend quality time with both parents.
Start planning in spring. Review your agreement, talk to your former partner about dates and plans, and make sure everything is recorded in a system that both of you can access. If you are also concerned about planning Christmas or need a complete guide to co-parenting, we have resources that can help.
Download Niddo and organise your family's summer holidays from a platform designed to make co-parenting work. Because your children deserve a conflict-free summer.
