The Importance Of Mediation In Children

In the text of The Contemporary Conflict Resolution Reader, mediators are described as having the skills to efficiently “exercise considerable ability in managing the face to face discussions, which can often call for subtle skill in influencing the way in which discussions are directed paced and timed” (Mitchell 80). This can be helpful when dealing with two individuals that are going through a highly emotional situation like a divorce. Spouses meet with mediators not so they can “make decisions for [them], but serves as a facilitator to help [them] figure out what's best” (Doskow). Mediation can be used in place of the judicial system when going through divorce proceedings.

There are several benefits that come with using mediation over

Children are involved in almost half of the divorces granted in the United States. With the use of peaceful conflict resolution skills through the duration of divorce proceedings the chances of negative side effects culminating within children could be significantly decreased. Children that experience a tumultuous divorce often encounter a multitude of psychological and physiological problems. It is common for a child of divorce to grow up and also go through their own divorce because chances are they were unaware of what a loving and healthy marriage was like. This sect of children and adolescents also have a higher chance of becoming sexually active at a younger age. Girls that have separated parents are more likely to have an unplanned teenage pregnancy. Drug use and other illicit activities are also more common in teenager that grew up with divorced parents. Academic success of children can also be hindered by a messy divorce. Many children lose interest in school and this begins a cycle of poor grades and bad attendance. Literacy can be affected by this, and when that happens a speech language pathologist may be utilized. SLP’s work with students in one on one or group settings helping to bolster their literacy skills. This falls in the domain of an SLP because there is a direct correlation between literacy and