Divorce Effects on Children

For parents, one of the most difficult aspects of divorce is the effect it may have on their children. Every parent wants to protect their child from unnecessary anxiety and insecurity, especially in the case of very young children who have yet to enter their teens. According to most experts in child psychology, a divorce generally has a different effect on younger children than on teens. This is because the younger the child, the more he or she is dependent on parents who comprise the basis of stability and who make up the family group. Young children rely on predictability, in schedules, in environments, and in the adults who manage their world. Divorce tears the predictable world apart, dividing parents, households, schedules, and more. It may cause the child to distrust his parents for having shaken his sense of order. It may also cause the child to become even more dependent in an effort to restore this broken sense of order.

Younger children may react with a variety of behaviors to their parents' divorce, all of which are designed to elicit the attention for which the child may feel a greater need. Anxiety in the child may bring on such behaviors as bed wetting, tantrums, clinging, whining, and similar behaviors. Experts agree that for parents who are going through a divorce it is important to reestablish a sense of predictability and order for the very young child in order to make the transition less stressful.

Divorce Lawyer in Columbia, South Carolina

Divorce is one of the most difficult processes for individuals and their children to go through. Confusion, upset, and anxiety generally accompany the divorce process for both adults and children. For adults, it is important to fully understand the process and the life transition in order to be able to move on to a better chapter of their lives. The legal process, including all of the factors and issues necessary to resolve and finalize a divorce, can be better understood and made much less stressful with the skilled help of an attorney who focuses on divorce and family law.

Masella Law Firm, P.A. serves clients in the greater Columbia area with more than a quarter of a century of legal experience. Whether you are facing a contested or uncontested divorce, an attorney at the firm can help ease the way by addressing the particulars of your situation, including issues involving child custody, child support, alimony, and division of marital property and debts. Work with a firm that has spent its long history dedicated to the support of its clients. Contact the firm to arrange for a legal consultation about your family law matter or divorce.