Same Sex Parents Spend More Meaningful Time With Kids

We do so love it when science confirms what we already know to be true. We love it even more when that confirmation goes against the stuffy traditionalists who have too long tried to make same-sex parents feel inferior.

Well today is a day to feel that extra level of love. A new report released by the University of Texas and carried out at the Austin Population Research Centre found that kids who have two mums or two dads are getting 40% more time than kids from straight parents. This is great news for same-sex couples, who for years have had to deal with shocking allegations from those against their choices who claim that children suffer from having same-sex parents.

The study acknowledged that it might have a role to play in debunking some of the negative connotations around same-sex families. The lead study author Kate Prickett noted that:

“This finding challenges biases against same sex parents and demonstrates high levels of investment in children by same-sex couples.”

The study found that kids of same-sex couples are getting 40% more meaningful time with their parents, and that their parents are more focused on meaningful activities that helped to support their child’s physical and cognitive development. This included reading to them, playing with them, helping them with homework and keeping them fit and healthy.

Kate Prickett also noted that the study came at exactly the right time, as the Supreme Court in the United States has just passed a decision on marriage equality, leading to some critical dialogue from outsiders.

“Some of the public dialogue had focused on whether same-sex parents create a different parenting environment for children compared to children who live with a mother and father. Our study sought to directly test this by looking at the parenting behaviours of a nationally representative, randomly selected sample of parents – something no other studies have examined.”

The team behind the study have considered that the reason for the level of dedication shown by same-sex couples is that more thought has been put into their romantic pairings. They also considered the fact that the challenges involved in becoming parents may influence their way of looking at the process.

In any case it is refreshing news for same-sex parents both in America and abroad, and a chance for supporters to say with certainty that critics of these families have been wrong all along. It goes to show that just because a family might be different from yours doesn’t mean they’re worse. In fact, they’re better!