With week on week off (also called alternating weeks), the children spend a full week with one parent and then a full week with the other. It is the simplest schedule with an equal split, which is why it is one of the most common forms of co-parenting.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Handover B→A | Parent A | Parent A | Parent A | Parent A | Parent A | Parent A |
| Week 2 | Handover A→B | Parent B | Parent B | Parent B | Parent B | Parent B | Parent B |
Half coloured = handover day: the children go from one parent to the other that day.
How it works
In the schedule below the week runs from Monday to Sunday. In practice many parents choose a different handover moment, such as Friday after school or Sunday evening. The rhythm stays the same: seven days with one parent, seven days with the other.
Switching on Friday after school means the children don't have to carry a full bag from house to house: they go from school to the other parent, and the weekend starts there.
Advantages
- Clear and predictable: the children know exactly where they are each week.
- Only one handover a week, so less moving things back and forth.
- Each parent has a full week for their own routines, and a full week to plan work or other things.
Disadvantages
- A week is long for young children. Many parents add an extra moment, such as an afternoon or dinner with the other parent.
- If you live further apart, you may drive back and forth to school during your week.
- If something goes wrong at the handover, it affects the whole week. A good handover with a packing list helps.
Who is it for?
Often chosen for school-age children and teenagers, and for parents who don't live next door but are in the same school area.
Variations
- Week on week off with a midweek visit: for example Wednesday after school until Thursday morning with the other parent. That makes the week shorter for young children.
- Handover on Friday or Sunday instead of Monday. The schedule stays the same, only the moment shifts.
The schedule in Harmoneaz
In Harmoneaz you colour in the schedule once, over one or two weeks. The app finds the handover days itself, puts them in both parents' calendars and creates a packing list for each handover day. A swap or holiday goes in as a temporary schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Which day do you switch with week on week off?
That is up to you. Friday after school is popular, because the children go from school to the other parent. Sunday evening or Monday morning also works. Pick a fixed moment so the children know what to expect.
Is week on week off suitable for young children?
A week without the other parent is long for toddlers and preschoolers. Many parents of young children therefore choose 2-2-3 or 2-2-5-5, or add an extra moment midweek. There is no fixed age limit: look at what suits your child.
How do you divide holidays with week on week off?
Agree on holidays separately from the regular schedule, for example the summer holiday in two halves. Put it in your parenting plan. In Harmoneaz you add such a period as a temporary schedule; the regular schedule simply continues afterwards.
Other schedules
- 2-2-5-5 (5-2-2-5): Each parent has two fixed weekdays; weekends alternate. An equal split, four handovers per two weeks.
- 2-2-3: Blocks of two, two and three days. Never more than three days with one parent, six handovers per two weeks.
- 70/30: The children mainly live with one parent; the other parent has every other weekend and a weekday.
- 60/40: Nearly equal: the other parent has every other weekend and a fixed weekday every week.
- Every other weekend (80/20): The children live with one parent and spend every other weekend with the other. Two handovers per two weeks.
Compare all co-parenting schedules
More information
- Dutch government: parenting plan checklist (in Dutch)
- Netherlands Youth Institute: separation (in Dutch)
This is general information, not legal advice. The split in days is an approximation: the number of nights depends on the handover moment.
