The heartbreaking effects of divorce on children have been highlighted by a new book, which gives them a platform to share their experiences.
‘Splitting Up: A Child’s Guide to a Grown Up Problem’, produced by leading family law firm Mishcon de Reya, includes testimonies from children and teenagers whose parents have divorced.
Family breakdown has long been known to negatively affect the social, educational and health outcomes of children.
Children’s voices
Speaking ahead of the book’s launch later this week Sandra Davis, head of Mishcon de Reya’s family department, said she had become increasingly frustrated that children’s voices were not being heard during divorce proceedings.
She said: “It doesn’t surprise me seeing the children’s quotes, or how depressing or miserable they are – I have been a family lawyer for more than 30 years”.
An article in The Times contains extracts from a range of children, some as young as eight.
Struggling
Some days I would randomly break into tears…
The research, summarised in a Panorama programme called ‘For the Sake of the Children’, concluded that the “experience of most children whose parents have divorced is of increased conflict over an extended period”.
Problems
Children whose parents split up and chose new partners were more likely to experience social, educational and health problems than those whose families remained intact, even when there was conflict between the parents.
Dr Sharon James, a social policy analyst and highly respected commentator on marriage, said: “Despite well-evidenced research providing a compelling argument for limiting divorce, successive Governments have failed to implement policy change.
“It’s tragic that politicians have such a relaxed attitude towards divorce, particularly given the damage being done in the lives of children.”