Sometimes, a child can cope perfectly well, and at other times feel very anxious. Young children can t tell you that they are anxious. Instead, they become irritable, tearful and clingy. Difficulty getting off to sleep can be a sign of anxiety, as can waking in the night and bad dreams. Anxiety can even cause a child to develop a stomach-ache or to feel sick.
Young children feel insecure when they hear their parents arguing or fighting.
They may be asked to take sides or comfort a parent, and feel divided loyalties. They usually love both parents and can t understand why they cannot live together. They often have divided loyalties. They may think it is their fault that the parents have separated. Often, they fear being abandoned by both parents.