The Family Mediation Service says that while most children show core signs of distress, reactions to parental break-ups vary in both intensity and kind.
Under two years
When someone close is no longer around, infants are anxious, clingy, withdrawn, stubborn, wakeful, or angry.
Two to five years
May constantly ask about absent parents and feel distressed after being with them. May blame themselves for the break-up, feel confused, insecure, watchful, defenceless. Six to eight years
This group may become involved in parental conflict, and have torn loyalties.
Their tension may show in tummy aches, school refusal, nightmares, sadness, withdrawal, aggression or over-responsibility.
Nine to 12 years
These children may feel very angry. They may judge and blame parents, and take sides.
They worry, may lose interest in school, friends and hobbies, suffer from head and tummy aches and feel helpless lonely and insecure.