Divorce can negatively impact children in several ways. When parents announce a divorce, children experience heightened stress which can lead to strained family relationships and problems at school and with peers. Studies show children of divorced parents face greater risks of academic, behavioral, and psychological issues. To help mitigate these effects, parents should calmly discuss the divorce with their children, ensure the kids understand the divorce is not their fault, and that their parents' love for them remains. While divorce increases certain risks for children, most are able to lead happy, normal lives with support from their parents.

1. How Divorce Affects Children

2. Though it is never a good idea to stay in an
unhealthy marriage, divorce is not an option that
should be taken lightly by those who have
children. Repeated studies have shown that there
are a host of negative effects that children suffer
as a result of their parents’ divorce. These range
from academic to behavioral problems and are
seen across economical, class and racial lines.

3. When parents announce to their children they are
getting a divorce, the most instantaneous effect is a
heightened stress level for the children. Most children
feel like parents should be able to work through any
problems they are having. They do not understand or
recognize the concept of “irreconcilable differences.” This
will lead to a straining of the relationship between the
child and the parents, and it also often leads to problems
for the kids in their everyday lives. Immediately after a
divorce, children are much more likely to struggle in
school, have problems interacting with their peers and
suffer from behavioral and psychological problems.

4. To help mitigate this stress and the problems that result from it,
parents need to discuss the issue with their children at length in a
calm and reasoned manner. Ignoring it will not make the stress go
away; it will merely increase the chances that kids have problems
while they are dealing with accepting the situation. Parents need
to make sure that their children understand that the divorce is not
their fault, and they also need to make it clear that their love for
them is in no way diminished.

5. Even though children of divorce are more likely to face
these issues, most of them will be just fine. The majority
of children with divorced parents live happy, normal lives.
Parents need to keep that in mind, but they should also
be on the lookout for any negative effects so they can get
their kids the help they need right away.
Source: Click here