How your children adjust to your separation is directly related to how you are adjusting. A child’s greatest fear in separation may be being abandoned. Your child’s basic sense of safety and security depends on having confidence in his or her parents’ commitment to provide support.

During separation and divorce children often witness a great deal of emotion around money. This can affect their sense of safety and security. Common reactions are anxiety, fear, resentment and anger.

In the next section, we look at children’s age-appropriate reactions to tension in their family around finances, and possible remedies.