Family Challenges

How do you think children at different ages deal with stress?

Regression – temporary backward movement to earlier states of development. Ex. Toilet – trained child begins to have accidents. Situational stress Stress that comes from the environment a child lives in or from certain circumstances and changes. Some of these stresses include: Moving Divorce Financial problems Substance abuse

Child Custody When a couple has children, the divorce decree states how the responsibility of their care will be handled. Custody is the legal right to make decisions that affect children and the responsibility to provide their physical care. Different custody arrangements are possible.

Custody Arrangements The care of children is handled in several ways after divorce. These are the possible legal arrangements: Sole custody Joint custody Split custody Third Party custody Alternating custody

Sole Custody One Spouse retains all legal parenting rights and responsibilities. The other usually has visitation rights, ensuring a certain amount of time with the children. While more fathers are seeking and gaining sole custody today, most decisions favor the mother.

Split Custody Each parent has sole custody of one or more children. This arrangement can make the divorce harder on siblings who want to stay together.

Third Party Custody Someone else, often a relative, is appointed as the children’s legal guardian. The children may also be placed in a foster home.

Alternating Custody Children live first with one parent for a long period of time, perhaps a year, then with the other. Each parent has decision making power during that time.

Joint Custody Parents share equally in decisions about the children. Children live mostly with one parent or split their time equally in each parent’s home. Parents are legally bound to work together for the children’s welfare; former spouses must be on good terms to make it work.

Illness Death of a loved one Death of a parent Suicide Children under three – may react to a death in a same way they react to a parent’s week long vacation Children ages 3 – 5 – think that death is like sleep Children ages 6 – 9 – fear of being abandon. May believe that angry words or thoughts caused the death. Preteens – maybe angry with the person who died. May still feel that a bad deed caused the death.

Teens – assume too much responsibility Teens – assume too much responsibility. They understand the finality of death. How could you help children deal with these stresses?