If everyday issues are addressed in a productive or constructive way, children benefit. I talked about the harm that destructive types of conflicts can cause. Some of the most destructive types of conflicts occur when partners withdraw from one another, stonewall, or show disrespect. Children are very sensitive to the emotional quality of the home. Parents may think children are not aware of conflict, but they are.
Children are just as upset by nonverbal as by verbal conflict.
There are many pathways of influence on children s peer relationships. I talked about the direct effect of seeing how parents deal with conflict. The marital relationship also has a significant impact on the parent-child relationship. Marital conflict undermines parents ability to discipline children appropriately and effectively. It is never too late to start handling disagreements in better ways, for spouses sake, for the sake of their marriage, and for the sake of their children.