Emotional behavior in a 9yr old girl

[Daddyof3girls]

I am a single father with 3 daughters. My oldest is 9 and I have 7 year old twins. I am in the middle of a nasty divorce with my (soon to be) Ex wife. I have custody and the mother gets visitation and they see their mother often. All three of the girls can be clingy at times but my main concern is for my oldest. She does not want to go outside and play anymore. During group activities with other kids around, The Twins will run off and play but My oldest prefers my company. She gets more clingy with me then her sisters do (Which I am thinking they are acting clingy because they see their older sister do it), And I am starting to wonder if this is a phase, An effect from my divorce with their mother, or a Child Attachment disorder. Do you think that this is normal behavior?

[Daddyof3girls]

Thank you

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Any experienced pediatric mental health professional who specilaizes in therapy (not pharmacological treatment) would be fine. Most likely you'll be selecting eithe a clinical social worker or clinical psychologist.

[Daddyof3girls]

Where should I start? Should I seek out a social worker or take her to her pediatrician? Over all nothing else seems wrong, She does not act depressed or angry, All three girls did well in school, and they are well behaved. Is just that the oldest seems anxious all the time.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

It is not unusual for children to display some insecurity when parents are going through a divorce, particulalrly when the divorce is not accomplished in an agreeable fashion. I would not characterize this reaction as a phase, but rather as a reaction to the unpleasanr reality of divorce. It would be a help to your daughter to arrange therapy for her as a support in the face of this difficluty change in the family.