Parents going through a divorce are concerned about the impact it may have on their children. In divorce, children are confused and often frightened that their personal safety is threatened. The experts at Psikids explain how to handle the situation.
Children can misinterpret divorce if parents do not explain clearly what is happening and how it will affect them. It is common for children to believe that they are the cause of the conflict between their parents and many of them take on the responsibility of trying to reconcile them, even sacrificing themselves in the process.
There are parents who explain everything to their children from the very beginning, but there are other parents who act as if nothing is happening in front of the children. The right position is probably somewhere in between. During a divorce, it should not be forgotten that adult matters should be kept between adults and that children should only know the details that concern them directly.
Vulnerability of children in divorce
Children may become vulnerable to physical or mental illness caused by the experience of loss of one or both parents in the divorce process. On the other hand, if the family makes use of its strength and positive aspects, they can help the child to find a solution to the parental conflict in a constructive way. That is why one should not lose sight of the fact that a divorce, although very problematic, is intended to provide a solution to a relationship that is no longer working.
Parents should identify the signs of stress that persist in their children. The younger ones may feel very sad and even experience a sense of loss. Problems with children’s behavior in a divorce are very common, especially in younger children, and can negatively affect their school performance.
Custody disputes can do a lot of harm to the child.
Children have fewer problems if they know that their parents will continue to act as their parents even if they no longer live together. Prolonged custody disputes can be very harmful to children, especially if they are coerced into taking sides. Research shows that children do best when their parents cooperate for their well-being.
If the child is showing symptoms of stress, parents can call in a child and adolescent psychiatrist to assess the situation and propose a therapeutic solution if necessary. In this sense, it is important that the specialist helps the family to learn mechanisms to reduce stress. Psychotherapy can help both children and parents in a divorce situation.