Children tend to have fewer preconceived notions about gender than adults do. Experiences vary for children with a transgender parent who transitions. Studies have shown that preschool age and adult children generally adapt better to a parent’s transition, while adolescent children tend to face more challenges.

Extra factors come into play as well, however, such as the fact that it can be tricky finding someone to talk to who has gone through the same experience. There are a limited number of resources available to transgender parents and their families.

Also, when a married parent transitions, the change may cause some conflict in the marriage itself, a situation that is bound to affect the children. This is often made much worse if the cisgender parent is openly hostile about the transition—although that is by no means always the situation.

A recent national study found that 58% of transgender parents found their relationships with their children to be the same or better and 13% found that some things were better and some things were worse (National Transgender Discrimination Survey). There are many events in the lives of parents and children that may cause difficult emotional responses, and it is the job of parents and families to help children deal with them in a healthy way.