Shared parenting time in Australia: exploring children's views

Abstract

This paper draws on interviews with 22 children conducted as part of a larger qualitative study during which 60 parents were interviewed once a year over three years (2009–2011) about their post-separation parenting and financial arrangements, to explore any changes to these over time. The main aim was to examine children's own descriptions and views of their parenting arrangements, with a particular focus on children currently or previously in shared time parenting arrangements, including their input into their parenting arrangements and any changes to those arrangements. Half of the children described changes to their parenting arrangements over time (in most cases from shared time to primary care, but in some cases towards greater sharing of time) and most of these children said they had input into their changed arrangements. Children who spoke positively about shared time described close relationships with cooperative parents who lived within close proximity and who were flexible about changing or swapping days. Children who spoke negatively about shared time identified the distance between their parents’ homes and/or parental conflict as key issues. Key factors prompting change were conflict with step-parents or step-siblings, distance between homes and wanting one home base.

Keywords:

• shared parenting
• children's views
• post-separation