With particular attention given to children under 6 years of age, this discussion identifies issues related to the effects on children of divorce, father absence, and student/teacher interaction. Research relating to these issues is reviewed, and recommendations for teachers are offered. Issues concerning divorce, the duration of separation, the child's age and developmental stage, and the presence or absence of family support systems are considered. Focusing on studies of infants and very young children, the discussion of father absence reports findings about positive contributions fathers make to families, the effect of father absence on children's cognitive development and school achievement, effects of fathers on sex-role development and positive heterosexual adjustment, and teachers' attitudes toward and expectations of children of divorce. Recommendations for teachers of young children focus on developmental considerations, teacher role and appropriate modifications of the curriculum, observations of children's play behavior to better understand and aid the child, and the problem of stereotyped negative expectations about the child of divorced parents. (RH)