Children respond to their parents’ divorce and separation in many different ways. While some kids adjust well, others struggle with negative psychological and behavioral effects for a long time after the breakup.
Younger elementary school-aged children may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of divorce. These children may understand the meaning of their parents’ divorce enough to become depressed and grief-stricken, and may experience profound loyalty conflicts (Grych & Fincham 1992).
Understanding Cognitive Development
Cognitive development is the process by which people accumulate useful knowledge. It includes learning to understand how the world works, reasoning about it, and developing skills like problem solving and memory.
Infants use social-emotional, language, motor, and perceptual experiences to develop their cognitive abilities. They also draw on their parents, family members, and caregivers to develop cognitive capabilities (Gopnik, Meltzoff, and Kuhl 1999).
Infants begin developing their understanding of physical principles as well as the ability to make sense of their environment by observing objects and events (Gopnik, Meltzoff, & Kuhl 1999). By age 12 children have developed concrete operational thinking and formal logical operations, which they can use to think about how things work and how they can change them.
Piaget’s theory of cognitive development suggests that there are four major stages, each of which represents a significant transformation of the stage before it. Sensorimotor intelligence, preoperational thinking, concrete operational thinking, and formal logical operations are all correlated with the age of childhood but only approximately.
Each stage has its own set of tasks that children need to complete in order to master that particular stage. These tasks are called “steps” and range from the early tasks of recognizing shapes to more complex ones like counting, matching, and categorizing items.
One of the best ways to visualize the dynamic nature of cognitive development is to view it as a web, like a ladder, in which each child moves along independent strands within the skill domains and simultaneously influences and integrates with other strands in order to produce complex behavior.
The Impact of Divorce on Cognitive Development
Divorce can have a significant impact on children’s cognitive development. Studies have shown that children who experience divorce have lower scores on school tests and are more likely to be asked to repeat a year of school (Jeynes 2000; Pong, Dronkers, and ampden-Thompson 2003).
Divorces can also impact children’s relationships with their parents, grandparents, and other family members. Often, children lose their families’ traditions and celebrations and their daily routines are disrupted.
Research shows that the relationship between a parent and their child is one of the most important in a child’s development. When there is a separation between a parent and their child, the child may feel confused or even angry with the parent.
While these effects are often temporary, they can be detrimental to the child’s cognitive development. For example, children who are separated from their parents are more likely to develop mental health problems and may have a harder time coping with stress.
In addition, children who experience divorce have a higher risk of developing clinical depression and other mental illnesses. They are also at risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts.
While the research on the impact of divorce is ongoing, there are some promising findings to help understand how it affects a child’s cognitive development. These findings can help parents understand the importance of making sure that their children have a stable home environment in which they can grow up and learn healthy relationships with others.
Creating a Stable Environment
When a child has been exposed to a lot of change in their environment, stability is important. It provides them with a sense of safety and security that helps them develop a strong foundation for their future.
Stability is also a key factor when dealing with foster children. It can make things easier on the child by providing them with a stable home and can help speed up the process of reunification.
In addition, stability is also a good idea when it comes to managing business. A stable environment allows managers to monitor and respond to changes in technology, law, consumer tastes and other spheres.
For example, if a company’s product is suddenly replaced by something else, it may not be able to react quickly enough and may fail. In contrast, a stable environment allows managers to respond to these changes slowly and carefully.
As for divorce, it is possible that environmental factors could play a role in determining an individual’s attitudes toward marriage and divorce. However, this has not been fully tested in a robust manner. This is because wild populations in different ecological settings often exhibit substantial ecological differences, which can interfere with the ability of a study to robustly compare divorce rates across environments.
The Impact of Divorce on Cognitive Development
Divorce has been linked to a variety of cognitive problems, including social difficulties, lower academic achievement, and emotional well-being. It has also been associated with a higher rate of substance use and mental health issues.
The effects of divorce on children vary greatly, depending on how the child reacts to the situation and whether they have access to a stable environment. A child who is unable to cope with the situation may be affected by depression, suicide threats, and other mental health issues.
Some studies have shown that children who experience parental divorce before age 6 show negative effects on their cognitive development. For example, they develop egocentric behavior and start to think that everything is their fault. They also learn to lie as a way of protecting themselves from what they see as negative consequences.
Research also shows that children who have a parent who is separated are more likely to exhibit aggression, delinquency, and impulsive behavior. They also report higher levels of sexual activity, alcohol consumption, and drug use during adolescence than peers who are not separated from their parents.
A large number of studies have been conducted to investigate the impact of divorce on cognitive and psychosocial development. The majority of these studies are based on US samples, and the majority of the research looks at children who experienced parental divorce over a range of ages (Booth and Amato 2001; Hanson 1999; Strohschein 2005; Kalmijn 2015).
Developing a Parenting Plan
A parenting plan is a written agreement that guides how much time each parent will spend with their children. It is usually signed by both parties, and it may be filed with the court if it is part of a divorce, separation, or child custody proceeding.
A typical parenting plan includes provisions relating to the children’s best interests and their needs for physical and emotional care. These issues include shelter, food, clothing, mobility, exercise, rest, medical care, protection from harm, and their mental state.
Developing a parenting plan can be done directly with the other parent or through the use of a professional mediator. Either way, it is important to be open and honest with the other parent about what your expectations are for the children.
Once a plan is created, it should be regularly reviewed and updated as necessary to keep the children’s schedule on track. This may mean reworking the schedule to accommodate new events, vacations, and activities that arise in the life of the child.
Some parenting plans also include provisions addressing special days such as Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving, and Labor Day weekend, as well as extended breaks. It is important to consider the children’s preferences and how they would like to celebrate holidays, so that a balance can be maintained between their needs and the needs of the other parent.
A parenting plan can be an excellent tool for reducing the impact of divorce on your children. However, it is important to remember that it can only work if both parents are willing to put in the effort and make the sacrifices required for their children’s best interests.
Co-Parenting Tools
Whether you’re just beginning to make arrangements with your ex after divorce or are already in the thick of things, there are a few co-parenting tools that can help. These include apps, tools to keep track of shared expenses, and a handover book.
One of the first steps in a successful co-parenting relationship is to put the children’s well-being at the forefront. Remember that the past will come up, but try to stay focused on what’s best for your kids.
Aside from the obvious advice of never saying negative things about your ex, another key to good communication is to remember that your ex’s feelings matter as much as yours. Be sure to respect their opinions and be considerate of their schedule.
If you find yourself in an argument, it’s important to calm down before talking with your co-parent. You can do this by taking deep breaths and focusing on what you’re saying.
In addition, remember to keep your communication positive and reassuring. Instead of yelling or saying things that aren’t helpful, say things that will ease your co-parent’s concerns and give them hope for the future.
Some of the more popular co-parenting tools are Talking Parents, Our Family Wizard and AppClose. The apps provide secure messaging and time-stamped records of communications. They also have a ToneMeter that flags emotionally-charged language and swear words. These can be especially helpful in mediation or litigation.
Steven Lassiter, an acclaimed divorce attorney from the heart of Texas, traces his roots back to a modest, blue-collar family from the small town of Lubbock. Born on August 12, 1980, his father was a mechanic and his mother, a dedicated teacher. The importance of perseverance and the pursuit of truth were instilled in him at an early age, shaping his character and forging his path to law.
In his youth, Steven was more interested in the works of John Grisham than games of football. His mother’s passion for education nourished his growing intellect, and his father’s work ethic gave him a strong sense of responsibility. As a result, he was an exemplary student, graduating high school as valedictorian. His stirring speech on justice and the pursuit of truth solidified his reputation as a young man of integrity.
Steven attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied pre-law. His industrious nature and keen intellect earned him an impressive academic record, and he was subsequently admitted to the university’s prestigious School of Law. His unwavering commitment to defending the rights of individuals led him to focus on family law, where he believed he could make the most impactful difference.
After passing the Texas Bar in 2005, Steven cut his teeth at a leading law firm in Dallas. Known for his empathetic approach and shrewd negotiation skills, he quickly earned a reputation as an attorney who fought with all his might for his clients. His dedication to their cause and his ability to simplify complex legalities for his clients won him the respect of both his peers and his clients.
In 2010, he took the daring step of establishing his own practice. His reputation as a formidable advocate for his clients ensured that his practice quickly gained traction. As his firm grew, so did Steven’s reputation for handling complex, high-stakes divorces with both sensitivity and firmness.
Today, Steven Lassiter is renowned as one of the best divorce attorneys in Texas. He is known for his unwavering commitment to his clients, his razor-sharp legal acumen, and his relentless pursuit of justice. A dedicated professional, he balances his time between his thriving practice and speaking engagements, sharing his expertise and experiences with aspiring lawyers across the state.
Despite his high-profile career, Steven never forgets his humble beginnings. He has always prioritized giving back to his community, participating in several pro bono programs and local charities. His commitment to fairness and justice extends beyond the courtroom, making him a respected figure not just in the legal community, but in his hometown as well.
Though his journey has had its share of hardships and late nights, Steven Lassiter, the mechanic’s son from Lubbock, wouldn’t have it any other way. His commitment to his clients, his passion for justice, and his unyielding pursuit of the truth have made him a beacon in the world of family law. His journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, determination, and unwavering belief in the cause of justice.
This is the life of Steven Lassiter – a devoted son, a tenacious attorney, and a beacon of hope for those navigating the stormy seas of divorce.
