Effects of divorce on children: when divorce benefits the family

Posted on August 24, 2021

A divorce can be a complicated and exhausting process; however, it does not necessarily have to be negative. Many children recover quickly from the stress of a divorce, depending on their age and their previous emotional experiences. But conflict, on the other hand, can leave deep scars in their life.

When children are exposed to chronic conflict within a household (e.g., from stressed parents), their behavior can be severely affected. Conflict might become the compass of their lives and negatively impact their adulthood. In such cases, an early divorce can become an experience that helps them heal and grow.

Positive Effects on Children

Here are some of the positive effects of divorce on children’s behavior :

1. Parents get more involved in their lives

Involved parents are better parents, and after a divorce, you can shift your focus from stressful conflict with your partner to your children – who need it the most. Kids love when their parents take the time to learn about their day-to-day lives, as it helps them feel secure and calm.

2. They learn that changes are sometimes necessary to move forward

Life is full of surprises, and more often than not, change is on the menu. Children from divorced parents know this better than others and grow to be prepared to face (and accept) inevitable changes as something positive.

3. Children can learn conflict resolution skills from a divorce

A failed marriage does not equal failed co-parenting and as you may guess, co-parenting (especially after a divorce) requires high-level conflict resolution skills. Your kids will notice this - they look upon you for guidance, after all!

If you can get along with your ex, you are teaching your kids a valuable lesson: people can set their differences aside, reach an agreement and value each other. This is the basis for healthy human relationships.

4. Your kids will learn to empathize better

Children who experience a divorce tend to know when the people they care about are having a rough time. They have the experience to empathize with people and care about a wider variety of situations in life. This increased empathy will help them develop more committed, stable, and healthy relationships in their adulthood.

5. More opportunities to get to know each other

A divorce can vastly affect family dynamics, but this does not have to be a bad thing. It can become an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with your children and get to know new sides of each other. Kids don’t care about how many days a week you spend with them – it’s about how interested you are in their life. Having the opportunity to spend some one-on-one time can help you improve your relationship.

At The Roberts Family Law Firm, we understand that a divorce can be a difficult time. Our knowledgeable and compassionate family law attorneys are here to help you as advocates for you and your children. Contact us today by calling (407) 426-6999 or by filling out the form provided on this page, and we will contact you shortly.

David Roberts
Family Law Attorney