The National Parents Organization, which advocates for shared parenting, has been a proponent of such legislation around the country, citing studies that show maximizing time with both parents is beneficial to children. Research has established that shared parenting helps children do better in school and on standardized tests and reduces the risks of emotional disorders, substance abuse and depression, said Ned Holstein, founder of the nonprofit group.
“Overwhelming evidence now shows that kids do better with lots of residential time with both parents. It’s very common for parents to get shared legal custody, but that doesn’t help kids do better in all the ways I’ve mentioned. Shared legal custody is basically the right to have a say, but the heart of parenting isn’t just the right to participate in the big decisions, it’s being involved in the multitude of little decisions,” Holstein said.