Supporting A Toddler's Divorce

680 Words3 Pages

he or she should seek outside support as the infant needs the parent and/or caregiver’s love and attention now more than ever before.
Part II: Supporting a Toddler (1 to 3 years old) Most toddlers have begun to speak and will understand some of what they hear about their parent’s divorce although they will not fully comprehend the weight of the situation and may be confused. Much like an infant, the toddler could potentially exhibit some of the same changes in behavior (DeBord, n.d). In addition, a toddler may regress and begin to act more infantile. When going through a divorce a toddler’s sense of safety, security and routine have been disrupted, it is important to offer the toddler love and support and only make changes that are absolutely …show more content…

A child this age may feel a sense of responsibility for the divorce the parents and/or caregivers should reiterate that in no way is the divorce the child/ren’s fault (Karuppaswamy & Myers-Walls, 2013) even if it has to be repeated daily. Explain to the preschooler that “mommy” or “daddy” did not leave him or her and although “mommy” and “daddy” will no longer live in the same household that they will always be his or her parents. Behavioral changes may include anger toward one or both parents and lashing out. When a preschooler exhibits aggressive and hostile behaviors it may be a reaction to fear and/or sadness (Berns, 2013), parents and/or caregivers should be aware of this. As with an infant, parents and/or caregivers should allow the child/ren time to adjust and help them work out their …show more content…

83). Although it is a relatively common occurrence in today’s society it is still a stressful situation and entails a number of changes for children and their families. The impact on the child/ren’s (family’s) microsystem may have a ripple effect; therefore the stressors need to be addressed. Information has been included on how to help their child/ren with divorce in general and the types of behavioral changes parents and/or caregivers can watch out for. Children need structure especially during a time when the world as they know it is undergoing such a drastic change. Which means that helping the child/ren feel loved, minimizing additional changes and, maintaining a routine is critical. Finally, while we as early childhood professionals offer our support what we are able to do is limited to a certain degree; therefore, the list of external local resources is readily available to help the child/ren and their families adjust to the