Panorama

For the Sake of the Children (1994x3)

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With 1994 designated Year of the Family, it is disturbing that trends emerging from the 1980s show that more children than ever will go through not just one, but two or even more family breakdowns before they are out of their teens. It has been suggested that one cause of divorce is the changing expectations of men and women's roles within the family - particularly in relation to childcare and household chores. The idea of warring couples "staying together for the sake of the children" has generally been rejected as old-fashioned, but is it such a bad idea? Francine Stock talks to children, parents, step-parents and experts in the field to find out how family breakdowns can affect children's health, schoolwork and behaviour.