What parenting time arrangements are common after divorce in Ontario?

Ontario family courts do not mandate any particular parenting schedule, and the right arrangement depends on the children's ages, both parents' work schedules, the geographic distance between homes, and the children's needs. That said, certain arrangements are commonly seen in practice.

Week-on, week-off (alternating weeks) is increasingly common for school-age children where both parents live reasonably close to each other and the school. It gives children predictability and meaningful time with each parent. Some families modify this with mid-week contact (a dinner visit or overnight) during the "off" week to reduce the longest stretch without seeing each parent.

For younger children, especially infants and toddlers, shorter and more frequent contact periods may be more appropriate, gradually increasing as the child gets older. For older teenagers, courts increasingly recognize that the child's own schedule and preferences play a role.

Traditional arrangements where children live primarily with one parent and have scheduled visits with the other — such as alternate weekends and one or two evenings per week — remain common, particularly when parents live farther apart or one parent has a work schedule that limits availability.

The key is to build a schedule around the children's needs rather than parental convenience alone. A parenting coordinator or family mediator can help you craft a workable arrangement when you and your co-parent have trouble agreeing.