Divorce can negatively impact children in several ways. It can cause children to feel alone, uncertain, and lose trust in others. Their behavior may change as they become more aggressive, careless, or depressed. Their school performance often declines as well. Children may blame themselves for the divorce or feel pressure to choose one parent over the other. The relationship with the parent they do not live with often changes. Divorce affects children of all ages, though younger children may fantasize about reconciliation while teens experience loneliness and guilt. Children need open communication from parents about the divorce and changes, but sometimes do not receive it. Parents should reassure their children the divorce is not their fault and help them cope.

1. Divorce & it’s Effects on childrenPresentation By: Demetria ThomasSLC: Health & medical

2. DIVORCE HURTSChildren start to feel alone.

3. Feel uncertain about things.

4. Loose trust in others or themselvesBEHAVIOR CHANGESChildren start to act carelessly.Children stop trying in school causing grades and test scores to drop.Stop attending school or cut classes.Boys become aggressive and get into fights.Girls mostly experience depression and sadness leading to early sexual behavior.

5. WHO’S TO BLAMESOME CHILDREN FEEL THAT THEY ARE THE BLAME FOR THEIR PARENTS DIVORCE, when they are not.Who Do I Choose??Children feel pressured as to choosing which parent they want to live with after the divorce. They want to make sure their decision will not hurt either one of their parents.

6. Neglected ChildAfter divorce, the relationship between the child and the parent who left will change.The child feels abandoned/ neglected by that one parent.The child will turn their anger towards the missing parent and think they are the blame for the divorce.

7. Divorce Effects All AgesParents think that if their child is older, they will not be as effected by the divorce than if they were younger.Kids at younger ages find the divorce hard to believe and fantasies about their parents reuniting. Teens experience loneliness,depression,guilt and stress.

8. What Children Need During Divorce Vs. What They ReceiveChildren need both parents to discuss/explain the divorce.They need to know about the upcoming changes.To have both parents in their life after separation.Some parents have a more direct/aggressive way of telling kids about the divorce.Children are not given the chance to express their feelings.Some parents do not answer the children's questions truthfully; leaving the kids in the dark

9. Facing The ChangesTeens are forced into adulthood; taken on responsibilities/chores of the missing parent.Children will have to move to a new neighborhood; leaving behind school, activities, friends and loved ones.Kids have to get used to not having both parents in the same household.Also some parents will bring a new mate into their children’s lives.

10. Helping Child Cope With DivorceParents should let their children know that what is happening is between mom and dad, not them.Reassurance that everything is going to turn out ok and not to worry.Let them know that you understand and care about their feelings.

11. Sources"How does divorce affect children?." Stop Divorce Source (2007): n. pag. Web. 13 Feb 2011. http://www.stopdivorcesource.com/how-does-divorce-affect-children-.html.Patten, Peggy. (1999). Divorce and Children Part I: An Interviewwith Robert Hughes, Jr., PhD. ParentNews [Online], 5(5). Eleoff, Sara. "Divorce Effects on Children." Child Advocate (2003): n. pag. Web. 13 Feb 2011. <http://www.childadvocate.net/divorce_effects_on_children.htm>.

12. Sources Cont’d"Maintaining a Healthy Relationship for Your Children." Divorce and its Effect on Children (2005): 1-2. Web. 13 Feb 2011. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5777/divorce_and_its_effect_on_children.html>.Block, Jocelyn , and Gina Kemp. "Helping your kids cope with the effects of separation and divorce ." Children and Divorce (2001): n. pag. Web. 13 Feb 2011. <http://www.helpguide.org/mental/children_divorce.htm>.