During my first year in the early childhood education unit, I decided to address the issue of “Divorce and Its Effects on Children” for the inquiry project. This topic was very close to my heart because all my life in a broken family and the complications of a child who goes through divorce were very real to me. I was at first ambivalent about doing the project as I knew it would take me to some dark places in childhood memories. Nevertheless, I also believed that it was this personal experience that allowed me to feel an attachment to the subject and enable me to approach it effectively.
Research undertaken throughout the project empowered me to appreciate the numerous diverse factors that divorce brings which can influence children’s behavior patterns, emotions, academics, as well as their social relationships. I also discovered how significant such a disruption can be in a child’s development cycle, and the need for stability with regards to nurturing, communication and support. I also found and appreciated why educators have strategies to help provide a warm environment for children experiencing such difficulties which are quite empowering for someone about to enter early childhood education.
Looking back on my life, I understood the role of my teachers in controlling the storm of emotions that arose from my parents’ divorce even when they hadn’t grasped the full picture. It was due to their calmness and unpretentiousness that I was able to manage some of my parents’ turbulent energies.
Inquiry-project-1st-year