How Can Divorce Affect Young Children?
When you decide to divorce, it is a major decision that can have long-term effects on your life. However, if you are a parent who is facing divorce, it is important to realize that the split can affect your children as much as, if not more, than you and your spouse. Depending on the age of the child, the split can have many different effects on your son or daughter. First, research has shown that children of divorce are twice as likely to experience problems than children whose parents remain married. These problems can manifest themselves academically, behaviorally, and socially. Additionally, a legal separation can disrupt a child’s self esteem, leading to later issues such as early sexual activity or illegal drug use. For children who are in preschool, a divorce is a difficult thing to understand. A child between 2.5 and 6 may believe that parents will eventually get back together, especially if the child behaves well. This is because kids at this age often blame themselves for thei