Parents in Connecticut who are getting divorced will need to consider how child custody will be handled. In the past, it was thought that children did better under the care of their mothers. Experts warned that children who spent overnight time with their fathers during their younger years could experience behavior and other challenges.
Many fathers have been opposed to this idea. However, they often give in to the pressure and allow their ex-wives to have full child custody. Modern research, however, supports the idea that children who are under joint physical and legal custody, even when they are young, do better than those who grow up raised by just one parent. Of course, this is only true in cases where neither parent is abusive.
Recent studies have shown that fathers are just as important as mothers when it comes to providing care for their children. This is true even in cases where small children spend time overnight time away from their mothers. Additionally, shared parenting plays a significant role in protecting the father-child and mother-child relationships. It prevents damage that can often come from sole custodial parenting, like the children being moved far away from the non-custodial parent.
Even in cases where much conflict exists between divorced parents, children experience better outcomes when there is joint custody or shared parenting. Studies show that children in joint custody families perform better in school, build closer relationships with others, have better self-esteem and enjoy more satisfaction in life. They are also less likely to experience depression, anxiety or behavioral issues.
A father or mother who is fighting for child custody may benefit from speaking with a family law attorney. The lawyer could argue for the fitness of their client as a parent in a child custody case or provide other practical help, like drawing up child visitation schedules.