Resolution Through Negotiation

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How divorce affects young children

On Behalf of | Nov 16, 2016 | Divorce |

No matter how amicable divorce may be between former spouses in Minnesota, it has a major impact on everyone in the family. Young children are more likely to be affected by this situation. Parents should become more familiar with how their legal separation affects their kids to prevent divorce-related issues.

According to Psychology Today, the unpredictable nature of their parent’s behavior during a divorce is enough to alter the trust and dependency young children have on their parents, resulting in feelings of insecurity, instability and unfamiliarity. Their world is mainly centered on their parents until they become older and more independent. Instead of being able to interact with both parents within one household, the kids must learn how to interact with their mom and dad in two different households.

Young children tend to respond more regressively towards divorce and other painful life situations. This is due to the changes that are going on. They are learning how to transition and adapt to their new lives and their parents’ new relationship status and living arrangements which force them to become more dependent earlier on in life.

Parents can minimize the effects that their separation has on their children by focusing on the quality of their parenting behaviors. They should also avoid confrontation and negative communication with each other, even when the kids are not around. By working to maintain the stability their children need to thrive and feel loved, they can also speed up their ability to bounce back from the situation, states Scientific American.

Divorce is life changing to everyone in the family, not just the partners who are splitting up. Parents who continue to put their young children first during their divorce proceedings can limit the effect of the situation on them.