How Divorce Can Impact Children’s School Performance

For as difficult as the divorce process can be emotionally for the people going through it, it can be just as difficult for children, who do not have the emotional maturity to fully understand why it’s happening and how it will affect their lives moving forward.

It’s not uncommon for the emotional trauma of divorce to manifest itself in children’s performance in school. Here are just a few trouble signs to watch for:

• Distraction: Children whose parents are going through divorce or recently divorced are more likely to be distracted in school, or have a hard time focusing on their homework. You may find it beneficial to take a greater role in helping your child with their assignments.
• Worsened grades: It is very common for children with divorcing parents to see sudden plunges in their grades. Keep a close eye on your child’s report cards and assignments.
• Lower motivation: Children whose parents are divorced don’t just have lower educational outcomes—they also have lower educational aspirations. This could be one thing that explains a lower GPA.
• Behavioral issues: Children whose parents are going through a divorce are more likely to have behavioral issues at school. This can include anything from acting out in class to skipping in class to bullying others or engaging in risky behaviors. Talk to your child’s teachers and see if they have nay behavioral issues to report.

For more information about common risk factors for children of divorcing parents and how you can continue to support your children during this difficult time, contact an experienced Long Island family lawyer at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates.