This is just one of the findings that will be discussed at a series of seminars across England on the impact of divorce and family break-up on children. Leading academics will speak on topics including supporting children through family change, fathers' involvement with children, counselling and school-based support, and support services for children whose parents are separating.
The outcomes of the seminars will help inform a briefing paper that will be presented to policymakers in the summer. A paper summarising the common themes emerging from the 12 research projects has been published to tie in with the seminars.
Eva Lloyd of Bristol University, who is one of the project's directors, said, 'The seminars are highly relevant to early years workers. Findings show that a great deal of family break-up affects children under five.'
Research carried out into children's views during their parents' separation found that a quarter of the children, aged five to 16, said no-one had talked to them about what was happening, and most were confused and distressed by the situation. Only 5 per cent of children said they were given explanations.
One study asked five- to seven-year-olds to draw pictures of their families to show the people they felt closest to. Children whose drawings portrayed their fathers 'as not emotionally close' were three times more likely to have problems at school.
The seminars start in Manchester on 2 March. Admission is free, but places are limited.
For information, contact Julie Doughty at Cardiff Law School on 029 2087 5765 or e-mail doughtyj@cf.ac.uk.