It can be difficult to deal with a child’s behavioral changes after divorce. Children react in many different ways to sudden changes in their lives. Some will act out, others get quiet, and some regress with behaviors. It’s not uncommon to see any of these changes in your children if you are going through a divorce. However, it’s important to support them through the life change. Give it time, because often things like this resolve themselves quickly. It can help to talk to your children about how they’re feeling. Be reassuring to them each time you talk that they will adjust quickly to their new life. And finally, seek the help of a therapist if you feel like your child is needing some extra support. It can be hard to see your children going through these things, but kids are resilient. It might take an adjustment period, but they will settle into a new routine soon enough.
Dealing with Child’s Behavioral Changes After Divorce: Each Child is Different
Give it Time
Your child’s behavioral changes after divorce might be making things difficult at home. Regressions are a common reaction to big life changes. So you might be seeing regressions with sleep or using the bathroom. This is completely normal and often resolves itself quickly. Be patient with your child and give them support to re-learn the task.
Talk it Out
You can also try talking it out to help your child’s behavioral changes after divorce. Your child may want to open up and talk about their feelings. Some kids do well with explaining big feelings, while others might be shyer. Make sure that they know they can come to you with any questions without you being angry. Even if the things they say are painful to hear, don’t react defensively. Understand that this is a big change for them just as much as it is for you.
Be Reassuring
It’s always helpful to be a calming voice of reassurance when dealing with your child’s behavioral changes after divorce. Often behavioral problems stem from a deep-seated feeling of guilt and blame. Children often internalize a divorce and begin to think that they are the cause. Make sure that they know that they did not have anything to do with the divorce. It’s always helpful to reassure them about how much you love them. And of course, reassure them that they will adjust to this new lifestyle in their own time.
Speak to a Therapist
Finally, if you are searching for some professional help with your child’s behavioral problems after divorce, reach out to a therapist. There are many pediatric therapists and counselors available who can give you some guidance. They might do play therapy, talk therapy, or a combination of many things. They will help your child learn how to express their feelings and cope with big feelings.
Children feel your stress and anxiety. So when you go through a divorce, no matter how much you keep from them, they’ll pick up on your mood. Divorce is hard on everybody. And their entire life may be changing in big ways with new living arrangements and not getting to see both parents all the time. If you are having trouble with your child’s behavioral changes after divorce, get support from other parents who have been in your situation. They might suggest that you give it some more time to let the issues resolve on their own. Or you might try talking to your children in a very reassuring way about how they’re feeling. And finally, if you need some professional support, reach out to a childhood therapist. There are many ways to help your child handle the big feelings of divorce. Just remember that they are resilient, they will adjust, and you are probably doing the best thing for them in the end.