Handoff day routine for two homes
The steps that make a changeover between two homes smooth for children. 6 steps, about 82 minutes, for ages 3 to 16.
The routine, step by step (the afternoon of a changeover)
- 4:30pmStep 1: Check the bag: school things, kit, medicine, comfort toy10 min
- 4:40pmStep 2: A heads-up: where they sleep tonight and when the handoff is2 min
- 4:42pmStep 3: Snack before leaving10 min
- 4:52pmStep 4: Travel and a calm, short handoff20 min
- 5:12pmStep 5: Settle in: unpack the bag together10 min
- 5:22pmStep 6: A familiar activity in the new home30 min
About 82 minutes, 4:30pm to 5:52pm.
Adjusting it by age
- Younger children
- Use a picture calendar of which home is which night, and keep goodbyes short and warm.
- Older children
- Let them manage their own packing list and message the other parent when they arrive.
TaskFamily runs this routine on your child's own screen: the two-homes schedule, a handoff reminder before every changeover and a packing checklist that travels.
Free for one household. Premium is $5.99 a month or $49 a year for the whole family, never per child.
Keep reading
Step times are typical for the ages shown and clock times count from the start time; nothing here is medical advice. The guide text is drafted with AI from these numbers and checked automatically before it is published.