Children's reaction to divorce

Divorce implies great changes in the child's world. This is a traumatic process which brings a lot of negative emotions: anger, anxiety, fear, sadness, etc. The age of a child significantly affects its perception of divorce.

Birth –18 months

Children of this age feel the tension in the relations of parents, but can't understand the essence of the conflict. If parents quarrel permanently, the child becomes irritable and nervous. These children tend to be retarded.

18 months - 3 years

At this age, emotional relationship with parents is the most strong, the whole world is focused on mother and father. These children take divorce hard, it is difficult for them to accept the fact of parental separation. They often tend to think that it is their fault. They fear experience the fear of loneliness and have problems with sleep.

3 - 6 years

Preschool children don't understand the whole essence of divorce. They feel that they can't influence the situation and control it. It results in the sense of uncertainty, anxiety and fear of solitude, darkness and insomnia. These children also tend to blame themselves for the divorce of parents.

6-11 years

Children are afraid to stay alone after the divorce of parents. They may fear that they will never see their father again, if they live with mom and vice versa. They may believe that they can restore relations of their parents, and may be angry with one of the parents, dividing them into "good" and "bad". Schoolchildren can accuse father or mother of selfishness and to express their anger in different ways: by means of bad behaviour, bad marks, detachment from the world, etc. They often have headache and problems with stomach.