Divorce can affect a child at any age. Even a baby can feel the tension of the adult conflict in a home.
Young children are particularly susceptible and can act out if they are feeling the tension of the adult conflict. Young children often do not fully understand why things are changing so quickly and internalize those fears, often believing that they are the reason that their parents are unhappy.
Public school children often have many questions about the changes and what is happening. They may need extra reassurance if they are disrupted from their routines and it helps to have a neutral third party who they can speak to.
Teenagers are already going through a very difficult time in their lives when their brains are rapidly developing. Teenagers tend to act out and rebel in the face of a divorce. They also quickly learn to turn one parent against the other in a bid to get what they want.
Adult children can also have a negative response to divorce. They often pick sides which may lead to further divisions within the family.
