Every year in the US about one million children experience divorce which, is about one in every three children (Amato 21). When thinking about divorce between spouses, people worry about the impact the situation could have on a child. The parents surely think about what would be best for their child, either staying together or separating. In the long run parents who separate are easier for the child. The divorce will be hard for the child regardless of the intensity of the situation. Some say that a divorce is a threat for all children. Behavioral and academic problem, relationship between parents, and relationships with peers can be either a long or short term effect on children of any age and sex. Children of divorce are more likely to suffer
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Some children will revert back to earlier behaviors such as having a security blanket, needed help from others to feed them, and even hitting other siblings. The children in this age group are more anxious and insecure than a child growing up in a two-parent home (Teyber 11). Many children at this age have abandonment issues. Since one parent has left they fear that the other parent will leave as well. These are short term effects because the children will grow out of these negative feelings.
School age children, six to eight, seem to have an especially hard time dealing with their parents splitting up. Boys seem to be more affected at this stage compared to girls. Unlike the preschool age, school age children seem to experience mainly sadness. They feel rejected by the parent that has left the home. This age will try to reunite the family to become one again. This starts to become their main focus and priority in everyday living. The obsession of trying to reunite the family can lead to a decrease in school academics, even dropping …show more content…
Even adults tend to have relationship problems of their own. Men tend to be less involved with their own children, and women tend to have children when they are not married and have negative opinions of their personal relationships. Aside from relationship issues, children of divorced parents often have significant differences in after high school education and career choices than children of intact families (Spruijt 897).
The amount and level of support can help decrease the long term effects of a divorce on a child. It is not the divorce itself that causes the effects. The way the parents go about the divorce is more substantial in the outcome of effects on their children.
There are many times that divorce can be better for the child. They do not have to witness a marriage that has somehow fallen apart. They do not have to hear the yelling and sometimes witness abusive situations in the family. Sue Behren, a doctor with 10 years’ experience in counseling children of divorce states, "all my research shows that kids are much happier when their parents are not rowing, when there is no friction or bad atmosphere at home." She also believes that it is impossible for parents to grit their teeth and stay together "for the sake of the children" (Hester
Some children will revert back to earlier behaviors such as having a security blanket, needed help from others to feed them, and even hitting other siblings. The children in this age group are more anxious and insecure than a child growing up in a two-parent home (Teyber 11). Many children at this age have abandonment issues. Since one parent has left they fear that the other parent will leave as well. These are short term effects because the children will grow out of these negative feelings.
School age children, six to eight, seem to have an especially hard time dealing with their parents splitting up. Boys seem to be more affected at this stage compared to girls. Unlike the preschool age, school age children seem to experience mainly sadness. They feel rejected by the parent that has left the home. This age will try to reunite the family to become one again. This starts to become their main focus and priority in everyday living. The obsession of trying to reunite the family can lead to a decrease in school academics, even dropping …show more content…
Even adults tend to have relationship problems of their own. Men tend to be less involved with their own children, and women tend to have children when they are not married and have negative opinions of their personal relationships. Aside from relationship issues, children of divorced parents often have significant differences in after high school education and career choices than children of intact families (Spruijt 897).
The amount and level of support can help decrease the long term effects of a divorce on a child. It is not the divorce itself that causes the effects. The way the parents go about the divorce is more substantial in the outcome of effects on their children.
There are many times that divorce can be better for the child. They do not have to witness a marriage that has somehow fallen apart. They do not have to hear the yelling and sometimes witness abusive situations in the family. Sue Behren, a doctor with 10 years’ experience in counseling children of divorce states, "all my research shows that kids are much happier when their parents are not rowing, when there is no friction or bad atmosphere at home." She also believes that it is impossible for parents to grit their teeth and stay together "for the sake of the children" (Hester