When a couple decides to get a divorce, one thing at the forefront of their minds is what will happen to their children. For minor children especially, divorce can be difficult with changes in routines and custody arrangements. Parents generally want their children to continue the same routine that they had prior to the divorce as much as possible.
Divorce is often in the best interest of the children as well as the couple, although that might not be obvious to young kids. Here are some ways that divorce affects children.
Irritability and anger issues
Children often do not know the whole story regarding why their parents no longer want to be together. As a result of not being in the know, they might respond with anger and irritability, resulting in behavioral issues at school and in the home. There can be many causes of anger, however, so it is important to get to the bottom of the cause as soon as possible.
Guilt
Because younger children are not able to fully grasp concepts regarding adult relationships, they might blame themselves for the separation and have feelings of guilt. It is important to explain to kids in an age-appropriate way that the divorce is not their fault and that their parents still love them even if they no longer get along with each other.
Academic performance
A change in routine can result in lowered academic performance for some children. Talk to teachers about what is happening at home so that they can provide the proper support.
Knowing how divorce affects kids enables parents to identify and correct problems.