Yes, you can do that. File your return without the children, then file an amendment later to add the dependents. If you include them now, the return would be rejected if he already claimed them.
How to I Add/Remove Dependents? Look into getting an IP PIN - if you can get one quickly, you will be able to add the children and e-file too. Beginning in the 2025 filing season, the IRS will accept Forms 1040, 1040-NR and 1040-SS even if a dependent has already been claimed on a previously filed return as long as the primary taxpayer on the second return includes a valid Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN). See IRS Help
Can Both Parents Claim a Child - Here is a great resource that explains that the IRS will get involved in these situations.
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