Children and divorce 1

Children and DivorceThe effects of divorce on children

Types of abuses

• Diminished parenting.• The overburdened child phenomena.• The consequences of divorce impact almost

all aspects of a child’s life.• The need of support for children

experiencing the divorce of their parents.

Effects of divorce on the parent-child relationship

Large amounts of anger Frequent breaking of rules Drug and/or alcohol abuse Destructive behavior Frequent guilt Problems with defiance Increasing isolation or withdrawl from

friends and family Thoughts of suicide or violence Increased or early sexual activity

The difficulties expressed by the children who experience divorce.

Early latency(ages5-8).Children between these ages at the time of their parent’s divorce, tend to react with great sadness.

Late latency(ages9-12).These children at the time of the divorce are distinguished from younger children by their feelings of intense anger

Adolescence(ages13-18).Adolescents whose parents are divorced experience loss, sadness, anger and pain.

Age differences

Working with school administrators. Working with teachers. Working with parents. Working with children. Individual counseling. Group counseling.

School counselor’s role

Situational /transitional groups offer emotional support.

Structured groups can teach children how to deal with crisis situations through group discussions, role playing and so on

One-day workshops for children between the ages of 10 and 17 can use sentence completion exercises and films about divorce to help group members explore values about marriage and divorce

Several types of group counseling

Bite marks Unusual bruises Lacerations\burns High incidence of accidents or frequent

injuries Fractures in unusual places Injuries, swellings to face and extremities Discoloration of skin

Physical abuse/physical indicators

Avoids physical contact with others Seems frightened by parents Often late or absent from school Little respect for others Has difficulty getting along with others Reports abuse by parents Has a history of running away from home Often hurts peers

Behavioral indicators

Child rocks, sucks, bites self Inappropriately aggressive Destructive to others Suffers from sleep, speech disorders Restrict play activities or experiences Demonstrates compulsions, obsessions,

phobias and so on.

Emotional abuse/observable indicators

Negative statements about self Shy, passive, compliant Self destructive behavior Highly aggressive Cruel to others Overly demanding

Behavioral indicators

Difficulty working or sitting Torn clothing Stained or bloody underwear Pregnancy Sexual acting out Sudden use of sexual words Venereal disease, especially in preteens

Sexual abuse/physical indicators

1. Provide opportunities for students to discuss their feelings

2. Allow children privacy when needed3. Provide a stable environment4. Engage in supportive communication5. Encourage parents to be honest, direct,

supportive and firm with their children

School and its duties