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Disagreements, tension and misunderstandings can happen in any family, but some types of conflict between parents or carers (whether they are together or separated) can negatively affect young people and children of any age (even whilst in the womb) – impacting their mental health and wellbeing in the long-term.
The first 1001 days of your child’s life lay the foundations for how their brain behaves. A foetus or baby exposed to long periods of external stress, such as relationship conflict, can make them less resilient to stressful situations in the future. Read more about the importance of the first 1001 days here.
It’s important to handle disagreements in a calm and respectful way. Most children can cope with disagreements that are calm, short-lived and resolved effectively.
Children also learn from those around them; by addressing conflict in this way it can show your child how to manage it effectively themselves as they grow.
How do I know if conflict in my relationship is harmful?
How can harmful parental conflict affect my child?
How can I reduce parental conflict?
Remember that you don’t have to face challenging times alone. The following support is also available:
- Relate – advice about building and sustaining positive relationships, they also offer relationship counselling
- See it differently – information to help parents to recognise unhelpful conflict patterns and explore small changes that make a positive difference
- Family Lives – confidential advice and support for parents and carers, including a free helpline and online guidance about family relationships
- RelationKit – short videos exploring relationship challenges and practical ways to handle conflict more constructively
