|
Good relationships matter to children
Parents getting
on well is one of the most important factors in raising happy
children. Children seem to recognise this more than their
parents do:
70% of teenagers say that parents getting on well together is
one of the most important factors in raising happy children; only
30% of the parents thought so.
After three decades of studying the ups and downs of family
life, Professor Mavis Hetherington says:
"a caring partner, who shares the responsibilities
and joys of raising children, and who is there for advice and
support when problems arise, is the most potent protective factor
a parent can have."
When parents are not getting on
We know that when
mothers and fathers separate most children suffer emotional distress,
but usually only in the short term.
For some, this can lead to a cycle of difficulties: they do less
well at school, they leave home and school early, start a family
of their own when they are young, experience depression, problems
with physical health and experience relationship breakdown as
adults.
It's the quality of relationships that matter
However, it is the quality of the relationship that matters most.
When parents stay
together but continue to fight, their children also tend to experience
many of these disadvantages. Some children living in homes
with a lot of rows and arguments actually do better after their
parents separate.
|
ABOUT US
