Setting up a shared family calendar with the other parent

Why one calendar beats two

When each home keeps its own diary, small differences creep in: a club moved to a different night, an inset day one home did not hear about, a handover time remembered differently. One shared calendar removes the need to check with each other about who has the children and what is coming up.

Setting it up step by step

1. 1Invite the other parent, so both homes see the same calendar.
2. 2Add each child, with the details both homes need.
3. 3Choose the regular schedule pattern and check the next few weeks.
4. 4Add regular events, such as clubs and appointments.
5. 5Add holidays, term dates, and any travel already planned.

In Parenting Apart, you invite the other parent by phone number or email. Until they join, messages can still reach them by text message or email, so arrangements do not have to wait.

Add the children's details once

Both homes need the same practical information about each child. Keeping it in one place avoids repeated questions and out of date details.

• School and year group
• Doctor and dentist
• Allergies, medication, and diet
• Bedtime and screen time routines
• Clothing and shoe sizes, and current interests

Each child in Parenting Apart has a profile with these details, used across events, expenses, handover checklists, and documents.

Schedule, events, and handovers

The calendar is built from a repeating 14 day cycle, starting from a template such as alternating weeks, every other weekend, 2-2-3, or 5-2-2-5, which you can adjust day by day. Our guide to custody schedule examples compares these patterns.

Add events with the child, time, and location, and set regular ones to repeat. Each handover can carry its own checklist, and the home screen shows today's schedule, the week ahead, and a countdown to the next handover.

Keeping the calendar current

• Add new events as soon as they are known, not the week before
• Request changes to agreed days as swaps, so both homes see the outcome
• Add term dates at the start of each school year
• Check the week ahead together with the children on a set day

A calendar that both homes trust saves far more time than it takes to maintain.

Common questions