California divorces affect the entire family, but no one seems to suffer the impacts as much as children. These are the effects they can experience and things you can do to make things easier for them. With your efforts, your kids will be able to cope better with the changes.
Effects of divorce on kids
Some children develop behavioral problems when their parents go through a divorce. This can happen to kids of all age groups; younger ones may act out in school and at home and can even blame one parent for the change in the family. Older kids can become more rebellious than usual and start doing things they normally wouldn’t do as a way to cope.
Kids can also experience problems at school with their studies. They might stop studying as diligently as they used to and find their grades slipping. Older children often even cut classes or play hooky, which can lead to issues going beyond poor grades. In the worst-case scenario, it could lead to suspension from school.
Many children of all ages develop mental health issues during their parents’ divorce. The trauma of the situation can lead to anxiety or depression as kids struggle to adjust to the change in the family dynamic. Post-traumatic stress disorder is also common during divorce in situations involving domestic violence.
Helping your child adjust
Co-parenting in a mature manner can help your child adjust during and after your divorce. You and your former spouse need to keep your kids as the top priority and avoid putting them in the middle to help them cope. Never use them as messengers to get dirt on one another and only argue out of their presence.
Keeping up a healthy relationship with your kids can also help them. Remember that you want to make things as easy as possible for them and that your marriage is over, but they are still loved by the two of you.
