Let's talk about Children from Broken Homes and our Role as a Society to help them

Good day steemians and welcome to my blog

The focus of this article is primarily to discuss issues regarding children from broken home and to offer advice on a way of improving the lives of people who are the casualties.

Public domain: Wikipedia commons

In simple words, a home is a place where individuals expresses and receives love as a family, it is a place where individuals learn the basic principles of living; how to love, how to respect, how to give selflessly, how to appreciate, how to show gratitude and cultivate good morals, in essence the home and the family is the backbone and strength of an healthy society.

When we talk about a broken home, we talk about a house and a family where individuals do not express or receive love, where it has become practically impossible to learn the basic principles of living, where love is absent, where respect is lacking, where selfishness is the order of the day, where there is no appreciation, where there is no gratitude and where there is absence of good morals. It is the headache and the source of a troubled society.

The classical definition of a home is where the partners are either divorced or separated.

In this write up we will learn the correct attitude to adopt towards the individuals that have experienced a broken home. It is primarily about our ability to help them believe in themselves again and help them adapt into the society.

Public domain: Pixabay

There is no general formula or a magical fix that we can adopt and use for the victims of a broken home because they have experiences in different forms, at different ages and in varying degrees. This has different effects and consequences on their lives, however there are some general effects of experiencing a broken home that impacts on the lives of this individuals.

I shall identify this consequences and learn some ways to help this individuals overcome the consequences and live life to the full. A broken family can negatively affect all domains of the individual's development. The effects of a broken family on a person’s development depend on numerous factors, including the age of the person at the time of parents’ separation, and on the personality and family relationships.

Although infants and young children may experience few negative developmental effects, older children and teenagers may experience some problems in their social, emotional and educational functioning.

Public domain: Pixabay

The following are some of the consequences of the broken home on the child, the teenager or the adolescent;

1. Children from pre-school through late adolescence can experience deficits in emotional development.

2. Children of all ages may seem tearful or depressed, which is a state that can last for several years after a child’s parents’ have separated.

3. Some older children may show very little emotional reaction to their parents’ divorce, this may not be beneficial to their development.

4. Some children who show little emotional response are actually bottling up their negative feelings.

5. Slowed academic development is another common way that separation of the parents affects children.

6. The emotional stress of a divorce alone can be enough to stunt a child’s academic progress.

7. The lifestyle changes and instability of a broken family can contribute to poor educational outcomes.

8. Some children act out their distress about their broken family by acting aggressive and by engaging in bullying behaviour, both of which can negatively affect peer relationships.
   
   Public domain:Pixel

9. Other children may experience anxiety, which can make it difficult for them to seek positive social interactions and engage in activities that benefits their development such as teen sports.

10. Teens from broken families might develop a cynical attitude toward relationships and harbour feelings of mistrust, both toward their parents and potential romantic partners.
    The society can help out in the following ways;

11. Educational institutions should circulate periodic forms for the students to fill which will in turn provide information as to children that may need special attention, counselling and support because it is very likely that the victims of the broken homes seldom reach out for help because of social stigma the society attaches to broken home.

12. Non Governmental Organisations, Religious bodies, Humanitarian institutions should help in developing a policy and an awareness to reduce the social stigmatization experienced by people from broken homes.

13. Non Governmental Organisations, Religious bodies, Humanitarian institutions should also come up with volunteer supporters and counsellors who can reach out to families that are going through this process to help in finding solutions before it becomes fullblown.

14. Discounted rehabilitation programs can be carried out by Companies, Banks and Conglomerates for victims of broken homes, this can be managed under their Corporate Social Responsibility programmes.

15. Newsprint and broadcast media outfits should sponsor and feature programs that will sensitize people on the proper attitude when interacting with broken home victims.

16. Private employers should provide equal opportunity for employment to people regardless of their home background, experience and structure.

Conclusion

Let me conclude by stating that the positive impact which the society is capable of having on victims of broken homes are diverse and unlimited, this is just a small part and I believe if it is diligently implemented, this persons will be the better for it, they will be able to smile again and especially develop wings and fly without any limitation.

Thank you for reading

REFERENCES

https://www.youthvoices.live/2017/01/12/child-development-and-behavior-broken-homes-hopes-and-dreams/

https://iproject.com.ng/education/final-year-project-topics/the-effect-of-broken-home-on-child-behavior-2/project-topics

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/30/facing-my-fear-growing-up-in-broken-home-kids

https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-of-the-effects-of-broken-homes-in-children