Understanding the consequences of divorce on children can be vital before deciding how to proceed with the separation and divorce process in the most effective manner.
Parents going through a divorce often go through a highly volatile and distressing time in their lives. Children are frequently entangled in the legal separation of their parents, which can have a severe impact on their well-being and development. While it is possible that the parents may no longer love one other, it is also possible that the children will suffer. Following the divorce of a parent, the life of a child may undergo a significant transformation.
According to statistics from the United Kingdom, at least half of all divorced couples have at least one child under the age of 16, with 20 percent of these children under the age of five. However, the figures only include legal divorces and do not include separations between married couples who are separated and not yet divorced, or who were not married at the time of the separation.
What are the long-term repercussions of divorce on children?
Many people are curious about the long-term consequences of divorce on children. A child also has thoughts and feelings, and the separation of parents can frequently result in adverse emotions in a child. Children can also be affected emotionally by a divorce on a parent-child level. Children frequently experience feelings of loss, anger, uncertainty, anxiety, and a variety of other emotions. A youngster may have a sense of bereavement. When parents’ divorce or separate, some children lose not only their home, but also the way of life that they have grown to know and love. Children are frequently raised in a stable home environment, and divorce represents a substantial transition that may have an influence on the children.
Children can be scared of being left alone for a variety of reasons, including the belief that if one parent has disappeared from their lives, the other parent would do the same. In addition, children who are separated or divorced may experience feelings of rejection, insecurity, and being pulled between their two parents. These feelings for a child can frequently be exacerbated if they are forced to move home and attend a new school, which may also put a financial strain on their family’s financial situation.
Understanding the effects of divorce on children is important.
Because of the emotional and psychological repercussions of divorce described above, there are also physical effects of divorce on children. The following are some of the effects of divorce on children that our Family Law specialists have witnessed at Clarity Simplicity:
• Children who grow up in divorced or separated families frequently struggle academically. Their psychological impacts of separation can frequently result in a loss of concentration on their education, making it difficult for them to succeed in their studies and achieve success.
• Children and adolescents from divorced and separated families are significantly more likely than other children and teenagers to engage in drug and alcohol misuse, as well as sexual intercourse.
• An increase in the number of children living in poverty is probable as a result of a family’s income is drastically reduced as a result of the separation or divorce.
• It is possible that the impact of divorce on a 6-year-old will be more severe if the child is poor, given that they are just beginning their education and maybe deprived of basic necessities such as sufficient school attire and equipment.
The most common effects of divorce on children that parents fail to acknowledge
Divorcing parents are frequently embroiled in their own legal and financial disputes as they navigate the divorce process and financial settlements. Through no fault of their own, it might be difficult for parents to comprehend the consequences of a divorce on their children. Parents may be experiencing emotional distress and may be unable to comprehend the emotions of their children. Children may come to believe they are unloved as a result of this if it is done unknowingly. Children can often feel neglected as a result of their parents’ inability to recognise and understand their emotional states.
Separating parents may find it difficult to find the time to talk with their children about the separation and other problems that are important to them. As a result, children may experience feelings of anger and frustration, which they may choose to express at school or among their peers by acting out. Children are more likely to suffer academically and turn to substance or alcohol abuse as a result of their feelings of being unloved and mistreated when their parent’s divorce because they may not be in a position to recognise the impact of divorce on their children.
What kind of help do I need to give my children during my separation and divorce?
Parents should ensure during their difficult time of divorce they support their children to ensure the effects of divorce on children are very minimal. The following may help children who are witnessing their parent’s divorce.
• Keep legal talks, conflicts and discussions away from the children
• Try and minimise the disruption caused to a child’s routine and daily life
• Avoid blame conversations away from children which may create feelings of hate and lack of trust
• Try and ensure both parents are involved in the children’s life to provide them with a sense of security.
How to make certain that you assist your child in coping better during the divorce process.
Separation and divorce may be unavoidable in some cases; nonetheless, parents can make an effort to minimise the impact of divorce on their children by assisting them in coping more successfully. Ensure that youngsters understand that their feelings are significant to their parents and will be taken into consideration. In order to avoid substantial psychological damage, children should be encouraged to communicate their sentiments about their parents’ separation rather than keeping these feelings hidden from themselves.
Understanding and coping with the effects of divorce on children
Quite often, parents will be going through a difficult period as a result of their marriage breakdown. Parents, on the other hand, should make absolutely sure their children receive assistance in dealing with the fallout of divorce. Based on their years of expertise, our family lawyers have supplied the following advice on how to deal with the consequences of divorce on children:
1. Be open and talk to your children – they need to know that they can come to you and talk about anything they want. This will encourage children to open up to you about their feelings, which will allow you to address them at an earlier stage.
2. Reassure your children – there is nothing worse than a child who believes they are abandoned by their parents. Continual reassurance will provide them with emotional support, and children will come to feel that they are still loved and cared for by their parents.
3. Set aside some quality time with your children – You may be preoccupied with the details of your divorce, but your children require your attention. Children who are left alone by their parents during a divorce are more likely to endure the consequences of the divorce.
4. Make the fewest number of modifications possible. The presence of stability in a child’s life can frequently aid in the prevention of the development of negative feelings. The more stability a child has, the more probable it is that they will be able to manage better with the divorce.
5. Avoid exposing your children to adult concerns – This is one of the best pieces of advice for parents who want to assist their children to cope with divorce more effectively. The only information that should be supplied to children is information that they are capable of understanding. Don’t include your children in adult disagreements or disputes, either.
If you are still unable to assist your child in coping with your divorce, you may want to consider seeking outside assistance. This could be from family members or another professional, such as your doctor or a family counselling service or organisation. It is surprising how many separated parents are unaware that your doctor or child counsellor can provide support and guidance to your children on how to cope better with their separation. The majority of youngsters will adjust successfully to their new circumstances if they are given the necessary support and assistance from the beginning.
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