For many children of divorced parents, joint custody is the most beneficial. However, there are some potential challenges for parents trying to share parental duties.
It may be hard at first, but there are some guidelines that may help parents be more successful at sharing custody.
Benefits of joint custody
According to a study in Science Daily, one of the benefits of joint custody is that the children experience less stress than those who live in a sole custody situation. Along with building a stronger relationship with both parents, the kids also do not experience as much of a loss regarding friends, relatives and money, which is better for their wellbeing. The study shows that a reduction of stress occurs no matter if the parents get along or not.
Guidelines for successful parenting
Juggling shared parenting can be challenging, especially at first, but Parents.com offers some advice to make it easier. One of the main rules is to focus on the kids and what is best for them. This means setting aside egos, treating the other parent with respect and only fighting about something when it is worth it.
Shared parenting is also easier when there is a set schedule. There is no one-size-fits-all custody arrangement, so parents should consider a variety of factors including:
- Work and social commitments of each parent
- The personalities and ages of the children
- Distance between each parent’s home
- School and extracurricular activities of each child
Communication between the parents can also be a challenge, so it is best to choose a communication method that allows for reduced drama. This may include a combination of phone calls, emails, texts and icalendars.
