Co-Parenting Dilemma: What Happens on School Snow Days?
Need confidential legal guidance in your divorce or custody matter? Request A Consultation Today.TL;DR: Snow Days and Parenting Plans
Snow days and sudden school closures often create confusion for divorced parents when parenting plans lack clarity. Take time during parenting time negotiations to spell out what happens when school is closed, how parents communicate on snow days, when exchanges can be delayed for safety, and whether missed parenting time is made up. Planning ahead helps reduce conflict, keeps children out of the middle, and makes unexpected disruptions easier to manage.
Winter 2026 has already brought plenty of cold, snowy weather — along with a familiar co-parenting challenge: last-minute school closures.
For two-home families, a snow day can bring on a blizzard of co-parenting questions and concerns:
- Who handles childcare?
- What happens if the roads are too bad for pick-ups and exchanges?
- Can any missed parenting time be made up later?
Most parenting time plans are written with normal school days in mind. Snow days, delayed openings, and early dismissals often fall into gray areas — leaving parents negotiating logistics early in the morning, under pressure.
A little clarity ahead of time can prevent a lot of conflict.
Practical Co-Parenting Tips to Make Snow Days Work
Address snow days and sudden school closures in your parenting plan
Snow days aren’t rare — and they aren’t the only school disruptions families face. Parenting plans work best when they clearly explain how snow days, emergency closures, delayed openings, remote school days and early dismissals are handled. Clear language helps avoid last-minute negotiations (and tensions).
Create a clear snow-day communication protocol
Many families benefit from agreeing in advance that:
- Both parents are signed up for school alerts and notifications.
- Parents will touch base by text or phone once a closure is announced to start activating the plan.
- Any necessary schedule changes are discussed calmly and confirmed in writing.
A simple check-in on the day of a closure can prevent misunderstandings and keep everyone on the same page.
Decide whether make-up time applies
If a snow day causes one parent to miss parenting time — for example, when an evening exchange is unsafe due to road conditions — the parenting plan should clearly state how that missed time is handled. In some cases, parents may agree to add that time to a future weekend or vacation period so no one feels shortchanged.
Plan for safety and travel issues
Parenting plans often include guidance on delaying exchanges when road conditions are unsafe. These decisions are based on objective factors such as official travel advisories, severe weather warnings, or clearly hazardous driving conditions. When that happens, the exchange is postponed until conditions improve. Clear make-up time provisions help ensure a weather delay doesn’t turn into a larger conflict.
Snow days don’t have to create co-parenting conflict
Snow days may seem like a small logistical issue — but for divorced parents, they often expose bigger gaps in a parenting plan. When expectations aren’t clear, even a routine school closure can turn into unnecessary stress for parents and children alike.
A well-drafted parenting plan should account for real-life disruptions, including weather-related closures and remote school days. Addressing these scenarios in advance helps reduce conflict, keeps children out of the middle, and allows both parents to respond calmly when plans change unexpectedly.
If snow days regularly create confusion or tension in your co-parenting arrangement, it may be worth reviewing your parenting plan with an experienced New Jersey family law attorney. A few targeted updates now can help prevent repeated disagreements — and make the next school closure far easier to manage.
Snow Day Parenting Plan FAQs
Do parenting schedules automatically change on snow days?
Usually no. In most cases, parenting time continues as scheduled unless the parenting plan specifically says otherwise or both parents agree to a temporary change.
What happens if a custody exchange was supposed to occur at school and school is closed?
If the parenting plan includes a backup exchange time and location, that plan should be followed. If it does not, parents may need to communicate and agree on a safe alternative. This is one reason it’s helpful to address school closures directly in a parenting plan.
Who decides if the weather is too dangerous for an exchange?
Well-drafted parenting plans rely on objective factors such as official travel advisories, severe weather warnings, or clearly unsafe road conditions — rather than one parent’s personal preference.
If parenting time is missed because of weather, can it be made up?
Often yes, if the parenting plan includes a make-up time provision. Parents may agree to add missed time to a future weekend, evening, or vacation period so neither parent feels shortchanged.
Should snow days and remote school days be included in a parenting plan?
Yes. Snow days, emergency closures, delayed openings, and remote instruction are common disruptions. Addressing them in advance can reduce confusion, prevent conflict, and keep children out of adult disagreements.
