One of the most essential pieces of information you can have when you are divorced or separated and have children is a visitation schedule.
A schedule for visitation is a document that outlines how visitation with your children works.
The most effective visitation schedule is one that is created specifically for your children and around your children's needs.
What are the main components of an effective visitation schedule?

• Residential or everyday schedule - A residential schedule consists of repeating cycle of visitation.
  First, you need to determine where the children will primarily reside (sole custody) or if each parent will have significant time with the children (joint custody).
  In a sole custody agreement, children may live with the custodial parent primarily and visit the non-custodial parent on the weekends, once or twice per week or overnight.
  A joint custody agreement might include a 50/50 schedule where significant time with the children is shared.
  This may be a 3/3/4/4 or 5/2/2/5 schedule.
  
• Holidays and special events - Having a schedule specifically for holidays and special events is important.
  It may be that holidays and special events are alternated equally or shared all together.
  It may be, in the case of one parent living out of state, that the custodial parent attends all special events with the children and the non-custodial parent shares all the holidays with the children.
  
• Vacations and school breaks - In the case of a sole custody agreement or an out-of-state visitation agreement, it may be that the custodial parent cares for the children during the regular school year and the non-custodial parent cares for the children during school and vacation breaks.
  It may also be that vacation time and school breaks are split equally or alternated.
  
• Provisions to the schedule - You will probably have provisions in your schedule.
  These will help make the schedule more effective and they may include information about how parental disputes are resolved, how transportation and exchanges are handled and how changes will be made to the schedule.
  
• Keeping track of visitation time - It is smart to keep a journal of actual visitation time so changes can be made if necessary.
  It may also be a good idea to keep notes about your children's activities and behaviors for the other parent to see.
  

You can make a good schedule that fits the needs of your children.
Sharing your children may not be the easiest way to parent, but you can do your best with custody and visitation documents.