Divorce can be a healthy decision for marriages in conflict. However, for young children, divorce is typically experienced as the end of the only family unit they have known.
As a result, children often feel a great deal of grief and loss. In fact, up to half of children show a symptomatic response during thefirst year after their parents’ divorce (Cohen & Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, 2002).
It is easy for parents to have difficulty recognizing their children’s sadness during this period because they are coping with their own sense of loss. In addition, sometimes it can be easy to miss a child’s signs of distress because the child may not be sad all the time. Children may cycle through periods of being happy and engaged in their daily routine and then move through periods of anger or depression.
With the support of loving adults, young children can continue to feel safe and secure throughout this major life change and adapt well to their new family dynamic.
