Does Divorce affect children’s outlook on relationships and their performance in school? Alex Clark

Effects on toddlers May show outgrown behaviors for attention Sleep patterns may change May become more irritable and angry

Effects on elementary school children More likely to blame themselves Will be “emotionally needy” Have more nightmares Change in sleep patterns much like toddlers

Effects on teens Often believe in a “good parent” & “bad parent” May still blame themselves Experience intense grief Withdrawal from friends is very common

46.2% 24.5% 7% 28% Statistics among adults The divorce rate in America for the 1 st marriage: 41% For the second marriage: 60% For the 3 rd marriage: 73%

Problems with research More information on causes of divorce, not effects Putting everything into a paper

After discovering the range of effects a divorce can have on a child, I wanted to reach out to the young people in my community and help them work through any situation they could not handle alone.

Steps for product Meet with mentor Decide on dates for class Make sign-up sheet Get materials & find a place to hold class Have the class Meet with students outside of class

DivorceCare Get approval to assist class from the leaders Open up 6 Tuesday nights into my schedule Talk to parents with questions

Class Every Tuesday night from 7-9 beginning January 24 and ending February 28 Meet & greet Prayer Split up adults and children Free time with children Share circle

One on one time Time with each student outside of class Trips to dinner or a movie Time for the student to share any feelings not wanted known among the group Help with schoolwork

Hocutt youth group Spoke in Sunday school about my project Offered my help to anyone in the youth group Took a written poll on how many students went through a divorce 5 out of 50 students in youth have divorced parents 10%

Mentor Kelly Hampton [class instructor & coordinator] -assisted with extremely upset kids -reviewed project

Challenges Kids who were afraid to open up Not every kid came every week My parents aren’t divorced so it was hard to connect at first Finding time outside of class to meet with students

Successes Candy incentive Games Positive peer pressure Strong bonds formed between other students Encouragement Love and comfort

What I learned Children don’t go unaffected in a divorce How to handle a group of kids and help instruct a class I work well with children and teens That 10% of my youth group have been through a divorce

Any questions?