Providing the answers to your legal questions Parenting after Parting
About 240,000 children each year in the UK experience the separation of their parents.
When their parents split up, these children can react in different ways. Some will be hurt and upset, even angry with their parents or themselves. How children react to the separation of their parents can often depend on their age and different developmental stages:
Babiesab - Bonding with their parents and gaining a sense of security is very important at this age. Regular and consistent arrangements for a baby to spend time with both parents is important.
Toddlers – Toddlers will experience new emotions, but are often unable to understand and express how they are feeling. Therefore, a predictable environment can help, with separated parents working together so that a toddler has a consistent balance of love and affection, whilst also learning appropriate boundaries when they are naughty.
3 to 5 years old – Pre-schoolers begin to develop their own sense of identity which is greatly influenced by the adults around them. They will pick up on what their parents
say and do. Therefore, it is important for
separated parents to try and maintain a positive attitude towards each other in front of their children.
6 to 9 years old – At this age, children start to
develop self-esteem. Their relationship with their parents is often important in how they view themselves. They are also able to better understand and talk about their feelings, although they may be reluctant to do so.
For further information please contact our Family Law team.
Cath Porter
Creating a positive home environment and encouraging a young child to talk about their feelings is important.
10 to 12 years old – Pre-teens often view the world as ‘black and white’. Whilst they might think they know what is right and wrong, they often still lack emotional maturity. Therefore, they are more likely to take sides with one parent and possibly feel the need to take care of a parent. Parents should take steps to ensure their child is not put in the middle of adult issues.
13 to 18 yearsar – As teenagers move from being children to young adults, they will often seek more independence. Separated parents may need to be more flexible with child arrangements, as social
lives
become the central focus of teenagers lives. Also, there is the increased risk that teenagers will become more exposed to adult information, but it is important that they are not burdened with adult problems.
Being a parent is seldom easy at the best of times, but is even more challenging when parents are no longer living in the same home.
Harold G Walker Solicitors specialist family lawyers appreciate the importance of understanding all of these issues, not just the law relating to families.
enquiries@hgwalker.co.uk | 01202 881454 or 01202 203200 |
www.hgwalker.co.uk Law Spot is brought to you by Harold G Walker Your Friend-in-Law.
There is no guarantee that your question will be used and you will not get a personal response. The answers in this feature are for guidance purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.
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