Almost half of the children in the U.S.

are
deprived of the lifelong benefits of two par- FICTION FACT
ents who share the parenting throughout the
first 18 years of their children’s lives. Who
SHARED Most children are satisfied with the amount The vast majority of children say they want –
are children living with?
42
PARENTING © of time they spend (or spent) with their fa- or wanted - more time with their fathers after
thers after their parents divorce. their parents stopped living together. Kids
55% mother & father - 4% unmarried want more shared parenting. 1-16
21% single mother - half divorced & FACTS AND As long as the mother has enough money, Kids with too little fathering are more likely
half never married children don’t pay a price for having too lit- to have problems throughout their lives re-
14% mom & stepdad FICTION tle or no contact with their father. lated to father absence than kids whose fa-
5% neither parent thers remained actively involved after the
parents stop living together. 1-17
2% mom & her boyfriend
2% single dad Research Brochure by Most divorced or never married parents are Parents generally cooperate more after at-
1% dad & stepmom too hostile to share parenting or to benefit tending shared parenting programs. Only 10-
DR. LINDA NIELSEN from programs on co-parenting.
.5% dad & his girlfriend 15% are in high conflict. 18-22
Professor of Women’s Studies Very young children should not be away
Wake Forest University Shared parenting is bad for infants or young from either parent for more than a few days
Only 15%- 20% of parents share parenting ACFC President 2008 children because they should not be sepa-
6,9,15 & are able to spend nights in each parent’s
after divorce. Existing legal pro- www.wfu.edu/~nielsen rated overnight from their mother.
home.23-26
cedures & attitudes of people who influence Nielsen@wfu.ed
the decisions about children’s living arrange- Fathers who share parenting are the most
ments often make shared parenting harder to When parents share parenting, children are
likely to pay child support, spend additional
achieve.25, 26,33,43-47 worse off financially because their dad pays
money on their kids, & contribute to college
much less child support.
educations. 27, 28, 33, 9
Research brochure by Dr. Nielsen © Fathers contribute as much as mothers to
Shared parenting is less important than good
mothering because fathers know so much children’s well-being, even if their ways of
less about raising kids than moms do. parenting are different. 12, 17, 29-31

The overwhelming majority of divorced fa-

American Coalition for Fathers & Children thers want more time with their children &
American Coalition for Fathers & Children Most divorced fathers are not interested in
32- 39
sharing more of the parenting. more shared parenting.
ACFC.ORG
Michael McCormick, Exec. Dir. ACFC. ORG
Michael McCormick, Exec. Dir. Children dislike shared parenting if they ac- Kids who live part time with each parent af-
1-800-978-3237
1-800-978-3237 tually have to live part time in both parents’ ter divorce prefer this to living only with one
mmccormick@acfc.org
mmccormick@acfc.org homes, moving back & forth. parent.2, 10, 40, 41
1 13 25 36
Ahrons, C. We’re Still Family: What Nielsen, L. The Father Daughter Puzzle: Pruett, M. Parenting plans for young chil- Hallman & Deinhart. Fathers’ experiences
grownup children say about divorce, 2004. Research & Advice for Fathers & Adult dren. Family Court Review, 2004. after divorce. Fathering, 2007.
Daughters, Fall, 2008.
2 26 37
Fabricus W. Listening to children of di- 14 Warshak, R. Overnight contact between Stone, G. Divorced fathers well being.
vorce. Family Relations, 2003. Smith, A. Children’s involvement in deci- parents & young children. Family Court Re- Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 2007.
sion making. Family Law, 2003. view, 2000.
3
Emery, R. The truth about children & di- 15
38
Hetherington, M. & Kelly, J. For better 27 Frieman, R. Understanding noncustodial
vorce. 2004. Fabricus & Braver. Divorced parents fi- parents. Divorce & Remarriage, 2007.
or worse: Divorce reconsidered. 2002 nancial support of college expenses, Family
4
Finley & Schwartz Father involvement & 16 Court Review, 2003 39
Bauserman, R. Child adjustment in joint Warshak, R. Divorce Poison, 2002.
young adult outcomes. Family Court Re-
view, 2007 vs. sole custody. Family Psychology, 2002. 28
Custodial mothers, fathers & child sup- 40
17 port: 2005. Population Characteristics. Buchanan & Maccoby. Adolescents after
5 Lamb, M. The Fathers Role in Child De-
Harvey & Fine Children of Divorce: Sto- Department of Commerce. Census Bureau divorce. 1996.
ries of Loss and Growth. 2004. velopment, 2004
29 41
6 18 Flouri, E. Fathering & Child Outcomes Laumann & Emery. Adults from di-
Kelly, J. Children's living arrangements Blaisure & Geasler Educational interven-
2005 vorced families Family Psychology, 2000.
following divorce. Family Process, 2006. tions for divorcing parents In Fine & Har-
vey’s Handbook of Divorce, 2006. 30
7 Farrell,W. Father- Child Reunion, 2004 42
Marquard. Between two worlds: Children 19 Children’s Living Arrangements:2003.
Braver. Prevention programs for divorced
of divorce. 2005. 31 Census Bureau.
fathers. Family Court Review,2008 Tarnis & Cabrera. Handbook of Father
8 Involvement, 2002 43
Sobolewski. Nonresident Fathers' Ties to 20
Pruett et al. Collaborative divorce project. Kelly,J. Ethical problems with custody.
Children. Marriage & Family, 2005. Family Court Review, 2005. Family Court Review, 2005.
32
Nielsen, L. Demeaning, demoralizing &
9 21 44
Wallerstein & Blakeslee What about the Brandon, D. Can four hours make a dif- disenfranchising divorced dads. Journal of Stamps, L. Judges maternal preferences in
kids? 2004. ference? Divorce & Remarriage, 2006 Divorce & Remarriage, 1999. custody Family Court Review, 2002
10 33 45
Warshak, R. Listening to children. Family 22
Stone, G. Education programs for div- Braver, S. Divorced Dads: Shattering the Williams, G. Judicial response to cus-
Relations 2003. orced parents.Divorce & Remarriage, 2006 Myths, 1998 tody. Law & Society Conference, 2007
11
Scott, Booth & King Post divorce father- 23 34 46
Assoc. of Family & Conciliation Courts, Bokker, Farley & Denny. Well being Kruk, E. Shared parental responsibility
adolescent closeness. Journal of Marriage
Planning for shared parenting, 2006. among recently divorced fathers. Journal of law reform. Divorce & Remarriage, 2005.
and Family, 2007.
Divorce & Remarriage, 2005
12
47
Nielsen, L. Fathers & daughters In 24 Dotterweich & McKinney Gender bias in
Kelly & Ward. Social science research 35
Teaching about Families, 2005. Fagan & Hawkins. Educational Interven- custody cases Family Court Review,2000.
and ALI’s approximation rule. Family Court
Review, 2002 tions with Fathers, 2003.