Tag Archives: Development

First Impression Post Week 3

--Original published at Melissa's Blog

The tiger mom parenting technique, which is common in Asian families, prioritizes hard work, education, rules, and discipline, over affection and play. These parents have very high expectations for their children and have very strict rules. Children are expected to have stellar grades, and have little leisure time for friends and electronics. This parenting strategy can be unhealthy for children because they are being controlled, have no independence or choice, and are scared of their parents. This often leads to rebellious behaviors, and/or low self-esteem. Although this technique does create a hard-working, and goal-oriented mindset that might help the children succeed in the future, they still will experience difficulties. They might struggle with expressing their emotion because their parents had tough love, rather than affection, and they might have poor social lives because their parents did not allow them to have play dates or sleep-overs. Children from tiger mom parents may be able to achieve great academics and impressive careers, but life is so much more than that.

Jellyfish dads are the total opposite of tiger moms. They are too lenient with their children and give them anything they want. These children call the shots and make their own rules. This parenting strategy lacks discipline, consequences, and structure, which does not prepare children for their futures. Since these parents are basically nonexistent, the children may feel neglected because no one cares about what they do. Also, they may even blame themselves for their parents absence. This can lead to negative self-esteem and no ambition.

The helicopter parenting technique is another extreme. These parents are over-protective of their children and don’t let them do anything because it is too “dangerous.” They are the parents who eavesdrop, spy, and search through their children’s belongings because they are so worried about them. However, too much hovering often leads to revolt and an untrustworthy relationship between the child and parent. Although these children are comfortable expressing their feelings because they have been so loved and nurtured, their parents are failing them because they do everything for their them, and are always there whenever they face an obstacle. Helicopter parents do not understand that children need to overcome some obstacles themselves so they have independence and maturity, which is crucial for succeeding in the real world. It is important to know that in the real world you cannot be dependent on parents.

The ideal way to parent is to have a balance between all three of these extreme strategies. Children should learn about how important it is to earn good grades, but should also spend as much time as possible being a kid because it goes by way to fast. Children should have toys, play dates, and should run around outside so they have creative minds. Today, too many children sit inside watching TV, playing video games, and going on smart devices. Parents who allow excessive amounts of electronics are being too lazy. Parents need to play and interact with their children to establish a healthy and trustworthy relationship. Children who interact with friends and parents, and explore their imagination are establishing  social skills for their futures.

Also, I think it is essential for children to be comfortable with their parents to establish trust. In a trusting relationship the parents will not hover and spy on their children because they respect them. An open and trustworthy relationship is necessary so children are not nervous to talk to their parents when they need help, have questions, or are seeking advice. Many children are too embarrassed or anxious to go to their parents when they need help because they do not have a strong enough relationship with them. Although I think a close relationship is essential, parents need to be parents. To explain, many parents try to be their children’s best friend, rather than their parent. In this instance the child disregards the rules and the parent lacks authority. Children need to be comfortable with their parents, but also need to know that the parent is in charge and there are rules that must be followed.

Lastly, it is a parent’s job to worry about their children, but they must let them explore and discover things on their own. Some parents do not let their children do things because they are too protective of them. For example, they do not let their kids get dirty, ride bike, play contact sports, and more because it could be too dangerous. Instead, parents should teach their children to be brave and face their fears, rather than hide from them. This allows children to express themselves and become independent. To conclude, a balance between the three parenting techniques will produce children who grow up to be happy, healthy, and productive members of society.

First Impression Post Week 3

--Original published at Rachel's Blog

When you look at children in today’s society, you can be sure that kids are not being parented the same as older generations.  Parenting styles have changed due to the way people now view the world, and also due to the new technological advances in today’s society.  As this could be a good thing, it could be a bad thing as well.  It seems that parents today are not as strict as parents were in the past.  I believe my mother raised my sister and I well because we were taught to always use manners, and if we did something bad, we were corrected and punished.

Most parents today will give their very young child an ipad or phone so that they are satisfied, but parents should not do this.  They should not heavily rely on T.V. shows, movies, and electronics to make their child feel happy.  These things can occupy a child for a long period of time, and this is not a healthy situation for a child; they need to be outside in the fresh air at the park, playing with friends, or their parent taking them for a walk.  Instead of the electronics, kids should have lots of toys to play with while they are young, because it could aid in development.  When my sister and I were little we had tons of toys to play with.  We would play pretend with our kitchen set and our dolls, draw outside with chalk, play with our stuffed animals, and many other things.  My mom always made sure that we were not bored, and she also made sure that we were busy and not sitting around all day doing nothing.  Parents should do more of these interactive activities because it will cause their children to think creatively and it will make their imagination grow.

Parents should be able to parent their kid however they choose.  I think that kids should be taught manners at a young age so that they grow up to be respectful to one another.  Helicopter parents may be a bit extreme, but for all types of parents, I believe that it is important to know where your kid is going and who they are going with.  It is up to the child to make the decisions, but if they happen to make a bad one, the parent can quickly correct their child.  Being able to correct your child when they have done something wrong is a good part of parenting, but also being able to talk to your child and establish a good relationship is another important part of parenting.

The “Right” Way to Parent

--Original published at Brittany's Thoughts

There are many different ways to parent your children. I would consider that the style my mother used on me was one of a “helicopter parent.” She always had asked me what was going on in school, if I had homework, put a lot of pressure on me to succeed academically and always had to know where I was and who I was with. I had friends growing up that had parents that didn’t really care what they did or how they were doing in school or even about going to their extracurricular events like music concerts and sports events, whereas my mother was always present at my concerts. As I see it, parenting is a balancing act in every aspect. The “Perfect” way to parent would be unachievable. I don’t have any children yet, nor do I want them before I am married and established in my career and financially, but I have an ideal way of how I would want to parent my children that could be called a “balanced” parenting technique.

First, you need to pay attention to your children, especially when they are doing appropriate things. They often act out to get your attention, and if you only pay attention to them for inappropriate behavior, then they will continue to do inappropriate things to get your attention. Second, technology should not do more of the parenting than you are. Using technology for educational purposes at home is something I really agree with , but you as the parent still need to educate them yourself and spend quality time with your children, teaching them, playing with them and just spending time with them.

Third, you need to be open-minded about the world and the things your children might do or be. If they cannot see that you are willing to be open-minded about their personal lives that is not deemed socially “normal” or has a stigma around it, they will not open up with you and trust you. Fourth, you do need to guide them. Give them advice when they ask for it because you have probably traveled that road before in life. Fifth, you have to let them make mistakes and get hurt. Lots of valuable learning comes from first-hand experience, and a part of life is making mistakes and getting hurt. Be there for them as a person to help them through those mistakes and pain and help them understand what had happened.

This last part is the hardest part for parents to deal with. Lastly, you need to let your children go when they’re ready. Holding on too tightly and sheltering them too much under prepares them for the world and it can make them resentful of you. They will come back for your guidance and love, so you will not be letting them go forever. Your parenting might even influence their parenting and make a chain reaction for generations to come.

Tiger moms and jellyfish dads are on the opposite sides of the parenting spectrum, one being incredibly strict and the other being laid back. The helicopter parent is on the stricter side of the spectrum as well. I find that my style of parenting is a balance in between both, taking aspects from both sides and incorporating them together to create the most ideal style of parenting.

First Impression Post Week 3

--Original published at Madison's Blog

Children in today’s society are brought up differently than I was, or even my fourteen year old sister was. Parenting styles have changed in the past few years due to new technologies and daily changes in society’s viewpoints. I believe my parents raised me well, and gave me the essential things I needed in life to be healthy and happy. They made sure I was always occupied with an activity, but it was never the television or anything of those sorts. I always had a coloring book, paint, Barbie Dolls, stuffed animals, and they kept me focused and let my imagination run wild. I was always playing games like house, chef, or I pretended to be a teacher and my stuffed animals were the students.  Parents should do more of this, because it allows children to play pretend, and strengthen their imaginative thoughts. My parents were not helicopter parents, they let me make my own decisions, but I always knew they expected me to behave. It was subtle, but they made sure I was a polite young lady and raised me to know what is right or wrong.

I believe parents now should not rely so much on the electronics and TV shows. Children need to have toys that they can play with, and create an imagination with. TV shows today are not focused towards young kids, and it can be a bad thing for their development. I also think it is a shame that babies can work smart phones better than I can sometimes. That is not typical, and they should be playing with a toy instead. Electronics have become a way of occupying a child for hours on end so the parent can walk away and not worry. I personally hate this, because I was never sat in front of the TV, my parents would always occupy me with something productive. I am a firm believer that the electronics are ruining the modern day world. Parents should watch their use of electronics in front of their kids, so they don’t portray that it is okay.

I believe helicopter parents make their children feel threatened, and make them feel like they can’t be themselves around them. Some of my friends from high school had hovering parents, and they even made me feel uncomfortable sometimes. I believe parents should be their kid’s friends, but more importantly be their children’s role model and someone who they can rely on. Children need structure in their lives, but not enough structure that they cannot be their own person due to an always watching parent. Being a friend is always a good thing, but I would rather someone I could look up to and talk to about my struggles in a parent. My parents can trust me now in my teenage years, because they know I am a responsible, trustworthy person. That person was a result of their great parenting styles. They didn’t hover over me, they just did their best to give me an imaginative life, without electronics and TV. I think their laid back, but persistent parenting style was perfect.

 

Parenting Approach

--Original published at Manda's College Blog

I am not the type of person that tells parents how to raise of their kids. I’ve been in a four year relationship with my boyfriend who has kids of his own, and I tend to look at how he and the mother raise the two kids (one is a teenager, and the other is preteen). I have been told that I tend to be critical at times, but it’s only due to their immature behavior that I have witnessed. I voice my opinion typically starting with “Well my parents would never let me get away with that.” or “My parents would do this and not this.” So I know the traits my parents taught me compared to my boyfriend as a parent is definitely a lot different. I would define my parenting skill as “tough-love”.

My definition of a great parent simply means not rewarding bad behavior. I tend to see parents these days know the bad behaviors the child does and respond by grounding them from tv but they still have their cellphone, or video games and can still go out, etc. Or they just slap them on the back of the hand and give them a lecture and no consequences were given. I have no idea how or why parenting has become so soft and full of fluffy love, and no form of the push to earn something or learn the hard way. I don’t think entertaining a toddler where they developmental stage is extremely significant at this stage is to place the iPad/tablet in front of them and the parent continue to do their own thing. Sure, theres a lot of educational shows out there, but watching tv and creating no type of hands on skill makes the child into a zombie. Reading books together, and having that child use their brain by learning the words.

With technology, kids should use video games and technology at the minimum. Creating rules and that sense of earning with having the chores done and then you can play video games. No tv or internet until you get your homework done. If you continue to get good grades, you can keep your cellphone. These types of rules teaches them how to be responsible and when you start teaching this early, it becomes second nature to them which they will take with as a adult. The helicopter parent is a extreme hovering chase, but I do agree to know where, who and what your kid is doing; because once a parent discovers something they don’t like, it can be taken care of quickly.

Another common parenting style is being the kids best friend. It’s personally one of the most common styles I see from the tv show, “Dr Phil”. Those parents who are their kids best friend tends over look the bad or just join them in their shenanigans. This is the result of where the tough love isn’t there. Tough love takes away the child’s right to try to control the respected adult, and just because they currently don’t see it that way, it is the parents job to show the child to see what them and their family are blessed with and how did the adults create such a fortunate life. By doing this continuously and for years to come, I believe the children will grow up to become very organized and responsible which contributes to being a positive member of society.

Week 3 First Impression Prompts – Development

Hand writing on a notebook

Regardless of which prompt you choose, please use the tag “Development” on your post. Here are the prompts for this week:

Option 1

Tiger moms, jellyfish dads, and helicopter parents. These terms all refer to various parenting styles and each has been both promoted as an ideal and criticized as “the problem with kids these days.” We will discuss parenting this week, but I’m curious what you think is the “best” way to parent. By “best” I mean most likely to produce children who grow up to be happy, healthy, and productive members of society. Write your post about the ideal way parents should raise their kids.

Option 2

While most developmental psychologists have focused on how we grow and change from birth to early adulthood, Erik Erikson was one of the first psychologists to put forth a theory of development that covered the entire lifespan. He divided the lifespan into 8 stages and in each stage he posited the primary challenge a person had to overcome for each stage. I want you to create your own 8-stage lifespan development theory (make sure to identify the age range for each stage) and identify what you think the main psychological challenge is for each stage. We’ll see how similar your ideas are to Erikson’s.

I look forward to seeing what you write!

Header image: CC by Flickr user Caitlinator

The Divorce Debate

--Original published at Ashley's Psyche

The topic of divorce is a heavily debated topic in today’s society as the rate of divorce has become much more prevalent over the years. Specifically, one of the most controversial points of the divorce debate it the effect it has on children and their future life choices. Some suggest that children develop internalizing, externalizing, and cognitive functioning problems due to the effects of divorce on the young brain, while others suggest that divorce can actually lead to more positive romantic experiences for children later on. But who is right?

According to Daniel S. Shaw, a doctor and psychology professor at the University of Pittsburgh, and Erin M. Ingoldsby, a senior research associate at James Bell Associates, many research designs have been done to support the idea that divorce negatively affects a child’s ability to internalize problems, externalize problems, and thrive academically. Shaw and Ingoldsby state that according to the National Survey of Children, children who experienced a divorce between their parents were less likely to be able to externalize their problems in a healthy manner, and were more like to misbehave and show aggression. The data they provided behind this was a longitudinal, observational study in which 1,423 children across the nation were observed behavior-wise at the ages of 7-11, 12-16, and 18-22. These children were randomly selected, and were a mixture of having parents happily together, parents already divorced, and parents who got divorced at some point during the study. Although most parents stayed married, the overall evidence for children of divorced parents showed the majority acting out and showing aggression towards teachers, parents, and significant others at all three age ranges (Shaw).

As well, Shaw and Ingoldsby suggest that children who experience parental divorce are likely to internalize their problems in an unhealthy manner. Although Shaw and Ingoldbsy suggest that much less research and support is shown for internalizing problems than externalizing problems, they do state that recently, according to the National Children Survey, there has been an “increase of self-reported distress and depression at ages 12-16 and 18-22 among children from divorced families” (Shaw).

To support this claim, a longitudinal study of child development was done on the participants in the Child Development Project, which consisted of 356 different families that registered to take part in the study while registering their children for kindergarten. For children who both had divorced parents and did not, their behavior was monitored by teachers and parents by filling out a Child Behavior Checklist. The data that was collected shows that not only did children with divorced parents experience much more signs of depression and anxiety than other children, but they also found that the earlier the divorce happened in child, the more likely the child is to unhealthily internalize his or her problems (Lansford).

Lastly, both an observational study explained by Shaw and Ingoldbsy and the study done on the participants of the Child Development Project suggest that children who experience the effects of divorce will be negatively affected in the areas of academics. Shaw and Ingoldbsy state that in an observational study of 699 children from 38 different states, “children from single-parent, divorced families showed deficits in IQ scores, ranging between 1 and 7 points, lower grades in history and math, school achievement scores averaging less than one year in school, and were more likely to repeat a grade” (Shaw). Similarly, an observational study conducted on the participants of the Child Development Project during the observational study of internalizing problems measured the grades in mathematics and language arts of students that experienced divorce in their families, and those that did not. A similar result to the one Shaw and Ingoldbsy suggested was found as students who had divorced parents showed a consistent decease in both mathematics and language arts as they progressed in the school system (Landsford).

On the contrary, some would suggest that divorce has more of a chance to positively affect children than negatively affect children. Although these people do acknowledge the idea that there will be negative effects on children from divorce, they suggest that these effects can be dealt with by early intervention, and will end up positively affecting these children later on in their romantic lives.

For example, in an observational study done by Grant W. Mohi at the University of Central Florida, Mohi found that many people who experienced divorce as a child grew up to maintain relationships for a longer period and be more open and communitive with spouses and children. The study was done by providing 233 different college students, 67 men and 166 women, from both divorced and intact families with a survey regarding their personal relationship trends. 10 face-to-face interviews were also conducted with students from divorced families to further support the data. The most common qualitative data Mohi collected was that students strived to do a better job in their relationships than their parents did; therefore it made them more open and committed to their spouses and families (Mohi).

A similar idea of positive effects on children who experienced parental divorce is supported in a study done by Paul R. Amato in his Journal of Marriage and Family. Sarah-Marie Hopf, who references Amato’s study in the Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science, describes Amato’s meta-analysis of 63 studies relating to divorced parents and their children. Hopf describes that Amato suggests a sense of resilience in children from what he observed (Amato). What is meant here is that children from divorced parents were not only likely to try to improve their own personal relationships due to what they observed from their parents, but 75-80 percent of those children were shown to grow up to achieve their education, career, and relationship goals later on in life (Hopf).

As both sides make compelling arguments about the effects of divorce on children and continually back their support with qualitative and quantitative data from multiple different studies, it is clear to see why the influences of parental divorce on children is such a heavily debated topic in today’s society.

 

References:

Amato, Paul R, and Joan G Gilbreth. “Nonresident Fathers and Children’s Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Marriage and Family, National Council on Family Relations, Aug. 1999, www.jstor.org/stable/353560?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents.

Hopf, Sarah Marie. “Risk and Resilience in Children Coping with Parental Divorce.”DUJS Online, Dartmouth College, 31 Oct. 2013, dujs.dartmouth.edu/2010/05/risk-and-resilience-in-children-coping-with-parental-divorce/#.WduKCmhSzIU.

Lansford, Jennifer E., et al. “Trajectories of Internalizing, Externalizing, and Grades for Children Who Have and Have Not Experienced Their Parents’ Divorce or Separation.” Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 20 June 2006, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2750031/.

Mohi, Grant W. “Positive Outcomes of Divorce: A Multi-Method Study on the Effects of Parental Divorce on Children.” The University of Central Florida Undergraduate Research Journal, vol. 7.2, 22 Sept. 2015, urj.ucf.edu/docs/mohi.pdf.

Shaw, Daniel S, and Erin M Ingoldsby. “Chirldren of Divorce.” Children of Divorce, The University of Pittsburgh, www.pitt.edu/ppcl/Publications/chapters/children_of_divorce.htm.


Spotlight Post 1: Divorce and Children

--Original published at Casey's Blog Site

Firstly stating that my parents have divorced when I was around 8 or 9 so I may add some of my thoughts throughout the post. Divorce itself seems to be more and more common in modern day relationships. Whether or not the child is affected by the divorce depends on how the relationship was before the divorce and after the divorce. If the relationship had the parents arguing and fighting more often than not and continues afterwards then the child will be more effected than if the relationship was taken care of civilly. “The consequences of a divorce for children are mostly that they have to move to a different home and sometimes to a different school and that they will not see and be with both their parents at the same time any more.”(Effects).

The first source suggests that children really aren’t affected at all when it comes to divorce. As stated above that the only thing they have to deal with is having to move form one house to another every now and then, but still states that children will react in different ways depending on how old they may be during the divorce. For example for children who are under the age of 9, the “preschoolers”, they feel a sense of that it was their fault for the divorce (Effects). While children 9-13 years of age become more independent and feel as though they need to take care of themselves since their parents can’t (Effects). The child is impacted the most once they enter a serious relationship and has the idea that they are going to fail or the relationship won’t last.

The following source argues that how the child is affected depends on how bad the relationship was before and after the divorce. “Researchers have consistently found that high levels of parental conflict during and after a divorce are associated with poorer adjustment in children” (Lilienfeld). This source also suggests that with more fighting creates more stress and affects how they are parenting the child, pushing them away when the child needs them the most. ” Children fare better if parents can limit conflict associated with the divorce process or minimize the child’s exposure to it” (Lilienfeld). Lilienfeld lastly states that children can bounce back and get through the divorce with little or no battle scars, if parenting is done right after the divorce.

When it came to my parent’s divorce they didn’t argue in front of me so I wasn’t exposed to it but looking back I would have to agree with the first source when stating that children from 9-13 become more independent. When it all happened and my parent’s moved to separate houses I did feel the need to take care of myself and only truly rely on myself to do things. But then I have also had friends who’s parents divorced and argued before and after the divorce and now I can see the different effects of them compared to me. I do believe that the effects on a child really do depends on how the parents take care of the situation, whether they are mature about it or not. So finally my take on it is that divorce overall can affect the child negatively if the child/children aren’t cared for correctly.

 

Bibliography:

“Effects of Divorce on Children.” Children and Divorce: Information, Tips and Real Life Stories for Divorced Parents., http://www.children-and-divorce.com/effects-of-divorce-on-children.html.

Lilienfeld, Hal Arkowitz Scott O. “Is Divorce Bad for Children?” Scientific American, http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-divorce-bad-for-children/.


Spotlight 1 Prompt 1

--Original published at Kevin Psych Blog

In recent history divorce has become less and less of a taboo in America and many places around the world. With that option being available to couples we have seen divorce rates steadily rise, for the most part, over the last few decades. With the growing popularity of divorce, it’s important to consider how it affects our children. Some people claim that it can have a lasting impact on someone for life, others say it can be overcome.

“Divorce Can Be Overcome” Articles:

Is Divorce Bad for Children?

This article claims that according to studies they found, divorce really has little impact on MOST children. Many grow up to be well adjusted and rarely suffer serious consequences early on in life. One study it looked at found that children may suffer from some side effects like anger, anxiety, and depression, but that they tend to go away within a two year time span. Another study suggested children who are exposed to conflict prior to the divorce often adjust even better when it happens as they are not as surprised, whereas a sudden divorce they couldn’t have seen coming may shock them, and some may even see the divorce as relief because of the conflict they saw. This article seemed trustworthy just because of how they sited studies as evidence for everything they said, every bit of it was backed up with evidence collected by other, probably more professional, researchers.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-divorce-bad-for-children/

Divorce Not Always Bad for Kids

This article looked specifically at studies who found that children of a bad marriage often ended up better off if their parents got divorced. Over the course of about 20 years or so, parents, and children of the parents, were interviewed at different ages. Parents were initially asked questions that helped to understand how much conflict was happening in their marriage. A later surveyed asked those parents new questions and tried to figure out if a divorce had occurred. A few years later the children, who would now be adults, were again surveyed and asked about how their current relationships had been faring. The surveys found that children who grew up in high conflict households usually turned out better if their parents had opted to get a divorce. In contrast to this, a happy marriage didn’t seem to have any impact on whether or not the children had positive relationships themselves later in life.

https://www.livescience.com/6648-divorce-bad-kids.html

“Divorce Has A Lasting Impact” articles:

A divorce can never be good for children no matter how amicable it is, says study

This study examined how children are affected within 3 different types of divorce; a “healthy one” in which the parents still talked to each other and rarely fought, parents who still payed childcare but did not talk, and divorces where one parent was completely gone. Each group was interviewed as children and adults, and each one gave very similar answers, which the article claims “debunks” the idea that divorces can be good. According to the study, the children of a healthy divorce often had less behavioral issues, but still suffered academically, with self esteem, and with drugs and alcohol. In fact the article claims that their grades were even worse than children who were missing a parent. The article quotes professional opinions on divorce, and it sites a study done by professionals, these two things really lend to its credibility in my opinion.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2095181/A-divorce-good-children-matter-amicable-says-study.html

How Could Divorce Affect My Kids?

This is another article that claims children will experience several of the same issues as the above article. Academic failure, drugs and alcohol use, delinquency, etc., as well as psychological and emotional issues lasting later into life. One study, done by Judith Wallerstein, interviewed several children multiple times between the 1970’s and the 1990’s. She expected children to recover but instead her findings revealed that many of the participants suffered from problems as adults, especially when moving into romantic relationships. She says that anxiety causes people to make poor decisions, giving up when problems occur, or just avoiding relationships altogether. More problems can be brought on if and when one parent finds a new spouse, introducing step-family which can act as more competition for attention from the original parent and can sometimes even lead to further separation between the child and the parent.

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/divorce-and-infidelity/should-i-get-a-divorce/how-could-divorce-affect-my-kids#fn9

Conclusion

I have to take the side of the argument saying divorce is not a serious issue for children. It’s obvious that there is a risk for children to experience negative side effects to divorce, but several studies have found it to be fairly uncommon, and some studies even found divorce to be the better choice for your children’s sake, in the case of an unhealthy marriage. I think it’s really a very situational issue, some children may be hurt and some may recover, I think it goes beyond just the issue of divorce, and is likely impacted by the child’s own natural tendency toward the issues that are claimed to be caused by divorce. I know from personal experience that I turned out alright despite my parents divorce, but I also know people who had the opposite outcome. Like I said, it really depends on how prone the child naturally was to emotional scarring.


How Divorce Affects Children

--Original published at Sarah's Insight

Divorce is becoming more and more relevant today than it has been in recent years, and more studies have been performed to see how the children from these so called “broken homes” differ from children that come from families that are still together. A study published by The Huffington Post entitled Does Divorce Inevitably Damage Children? suggests that children from divorced families are much like children from two-parent homes, after about three years. This basically means that divorce does not, if at all, lead to social, psychological, or academic problems. Because there are differences between development of children of different ages, the divorce affects children that are younger, say a toddler for example, than someone that is older or an adolescent. The Huffington Post is as credible as its authors. The author of this specific article is a man named Joseph Nowinski, Ph.D. Doctor Nowinski is a clinical psychologist and author, who has written about divorce and its affects on a family.

A second article, published by The Scientific American entitled Is Divorce Bad for Children? states that researchers have found that children typically do not experience problems with the divorce while its happening, nor when they’re adults. Of course, divorce will affect a child in the moment, bout the research suggests that the affects more or less vanish and leave the children almost if not totally back to normal. The Scientific American is a credible source because it is the longest continuously published magazine in America and has had articles contributed by many famous scientists, including Albert Einstein.

The opposing argument has been easier to find articles about. An article published by Psychology Today entitled Divorce Hurts Children, Even Grown Ones provides information suggesting that divorce is detrimental to children of all ages, including adults. The author of the article provides personal experiences growing up in a divorced home and explains how she believed the divorce was her fault, how she lost motivation and did not care what would happen to herself. Her and her brother’s social life suffered and her familial connections were destroyed.

One final source that says divorce has negative affects on children is from The Week entitled 9 Negative Effects Divorce Reportedly Has on Children. This article combines 9 different studies that all show that divorce can negatively affect children in ways that include smoking, poor social habits, increased likelihood of dropping out of school, and even, early death. The Week is a British news magazine, but also publishes an American edition. Although they are biased towards the left wing, they always source credible information.

While I believe that divorce and its affects on children varies from person to person, I would agree with the first source provided in the article. I agree that the affects of divorce can and will affect a child when the divorce is still new, but as time goes by and the child adjusts to the changes of their life, they will have a new “normal” where they function normally.

Articles:

Does Divorce Inevitably Damage Children?

Is Divorce Bad for Children?

Divorce Hurts Children, Even Grown Ones

9 Negative Effects Divorce Reportedly Has on Children