Divorce can be emotionally devastating for any child.
No matter how much their parents argue and fight, most children would prefer that they stay together. Children have difficulty understanding the permanence of the situation so they hang on to the hope of their parents getting back together. They also often blame themselves for their parent's break-up, so talk with your child and explain the reasons for the divorce. This makes it important that you and your ex-spouse try to be civil to one another and not belittle one another in front of the child. Children need to know that their relationship with the departed parent can continue and it helps if the child has free access to both parents' homes.