The Every extended weekend custody schedule

One parent has every Thursday evening to Monday morning; the other has Monday to Thursday. About 60/40 with the weekend fixed.

60/40

time split (57% / 43%)

4 / 3

overnights per 7 nights

2

exchanges per 7 nights

Every extended weekend on a two-week calendar

MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Week 1AAAABBB
Week 2AAAABBB
A = Parent AB = Parent BEach cell is one overnight. The pattern repeats every week.
See Every extended weekend on your datesBuild a 12-month Every extended weekend calendar

Which ages the Every extended weekend schedule suits

A parent whose work rules out weeknights but who wants more than alternate weekends, where the other parent is content to carry the school week.

  • Infants (0 to 18 months)●●○
  • Toddlers (18 months to 3)●●●
  • Preschool (3 to 5)●●●
  • School age (6 to 12)●●●
  • Teens (13+)●●○

Pros and cons of Every extended weekend

Works well

  • Simple weekly repeat
  • The weekend parent is in the children's life every week
  • Two exchanges a week, both possible at school

Watch out for

  • The weekday parent never has a weekend with the children unless rotated
  • Not an equal split

What your parenting plan should say

Describe the full cycle in days and times, not as a percentage. Name the parent who starts and the date the cycle begins, state where exchanges happen, and say that the holiday schedule overrides this one. Sample wording:

Parent A shall have the children from Monday morning until Thursday after school each week. Parent B shall have the children from Thursday after school until Monday morning each week. Every third weekend shall be with Parent A, and in that week Parent B shall have the children from Thursday after school until Friday morning only.

Adapt the day names and times to your family. This is sample wording, not legal advice for your case.

Write the Every extended weekend schedule into your agreement

The Complete Co-Parenting Kit includes the fillable parenting agreement with a ready-made schedule section, holiday clauses and a completion guide, plus the 30-Day Reset workbook and 20 message scripts for proposing a schedule to a reluctant co-parent.

See what is in the Kit ($297)

Delivered by email. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Every extended weekend schedule: questions parents ask

Is an extended weekend schedule the same as 4-3?

It is a 4-3 pattern with the three-night block fixed on the weekend. The difference is how it is described and whether the weekend ever rotates.

How many overnights?

Four and three per week, about 57/43.

Is it fair to the weekday parent?

Only if the plan gives them some weekends. Many families rotate one weekend in three or four to the weekday parent.

Is it good for young children?

Yes, the gaps are short. The fixed pattern is easy for a young child to learn.

What should the plan say?

Define the weekly pattern and exchange points, and write in the rotating weekend for the weekday parent so it does not depend on goodwill.

Other 60/40 schedules

  • 4-3: Four nights with one parent and three with the other, every week. A simple 60/40.
  • 60/40: Patterns that give one parent about eight or nine nights in fourteen: 4-3, extended weekends, or week-on week-off with a midweek overnight.

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