Common Parenting Time Schedules in Ontario by Child's Age

Parents often ask what schedule is normal for a child of a certain age. People describe arrangements by name, such as 2-2-3 or week-on week-off, and it can sound as if there is an official menu.

There is not. The schedules below are common examples, not legal rules. This article explains how they work, how age tends to come into the thinking, and how a schedule becomes part of an agreement or order in Ontario.

There is no age-based schedule in the law

Courts apply the general best-interests factors, which include the child's needs given age and stage of development. The primary consideration is the child's physical, emotional and psychological safety, security and well-being. A child should have as much time with each parent as is consistent with the child's best interests, and Justice Canada says the right amount depends on the individual child's circumstances and is subject to the child's safety.

Justice Canada's guide also notes that a schedule suited to a teenager is unlikely to suit an infant or toddler. Beyond that, do not treat any chart you find online as the law.

Common schedules explained

These labels describe patterns only. Parents regularly adjust them, add a midweek dinner, or split holidays differently.

Thinking about each stage

• Infants and toddlers: very young children usually need frequent, predictable contact and consistent care routines. No official source sets rules on overnights for babies or toddlers, so courts look at the individual child's needs and circumstances.
• School-age children: school logistics, homework, activities and the distance between homes tend to drive the schedule. Longer blocks become easier as children grow.
• Teenagers: a teen's own views, school, work and social life matter more. The court considers the child's views and preferences, giving due weight to age and maturity, unless they cannot be ascertained.

Parents can plan for change. Many agreements build in a review date or a stepped schedule that grows as the child does.

Putting a schedule into a plan or an order

Justice Canada suggests a parenting plan cover decision-making, a parenting schedule including holidays, transportation (especially if parents live far apart), vacations outside the province or country, passport applications and consent letters for travel. A parenting order can also set rules for communication with the child, such as calls or video, during another person's parenting time. The person with parenting time has exclusive authority over day-to-day decisions during that time, unless the court orders otherwise.

If you apply to court, the court must include in its order a written parenting plan the parties have agreed on, though it may change the plan if that is in the child's best interests. A separation agreement must be in writing, signed and witnessed to be enforceable, and a court may disregard its parenting terms if that is in the child's best interests. Justice Canada advises each parent to show the draft plan to their own legal adviser before signing.

What to do next

• Map out the child's week: school, activities, health needs and sleep routines.
• Consider how far apart the two homes are and who will handle transportation.
• Draft two or three realistic schedule options rather than one fixed demand.
• Plan holidays, vacations, and travel consents in writing.
• Add a way to review the schedule as the child gets older.
• Have a family lawyer review the draft before you sign.

Frequently asked questions