Co-Parenting Tips for Divorced Parents
For the vast majority of adults, divorce is an unsettling experience, and it is even more so for children involved in the process.
Published on 23 January 2023
For the vast majority of adults, divorce is an unsettling experience, and it is even more so for children involved in the process. Although it is usually the case that prior to a marital breakdown two adults have grown apart, a child never grows out of the need to feel safe and loved by both parents. In a challenging situation such as divorce, a young child needs extra support and reassurance. But because parents are often preoccupied with issues pertaining to the crumbling marriage and feel overwhelmed, the child might suffer from parental neglect and be left to “fend for themselves”.
As a result, divorce usually shakes a youngster’s trust in his/her parents, causing distress and emotional pain. However, divorce does not always have long-term adverse psychological consequences for children. Donald Wertlieb, Ph.D., founding director of the Tufts University Center for Children and the Center for Applied Child Development, conducted research involving 200 Boston families, 40 of which went through a divorce. He studied the effect of divorce on children 2-5 years after their parents’ separation. Dr. Wertlieb found that children who had returned to a ”consistent, reliable family routine” fared better than other peers of divorced parents. He also emphasized that joint custody with a “collaborative spirit” helps prevent the negative effects of divorce on a child’s personality development.
Thus, if you and your ex are committed to providing a favorable environment for your kid(s) after you part ways, you have to make every effort to mitigate the pain your offspring goes through and stay involved in their life. Psychologists believe that healthy co-parenting produces the best outcomes in children of divorced parents.