Jon Minus Kate: What About the "Plus 8"?

Jon and Kate Gosselin of the hit TV reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8" are calling it quits.

But how will the split affect their eight young children?

Dr. Jeff Gardere, a clinical psychologist said on The Early Show Tuesday that the breakup will affect each age group differently.

Gardere said the 8-year-olds Gosselin twins will likely have more aggression, confusion and sadness, because they understand a bit more of what's going on. As for the 5-year-old sextuplets, he said they'll understand less, but may have more regressive behavior, such as temporary thumb sucking and toilet training lapses.

Jon and Kate need to present themselves to their children as a united couple, Gardere said, even though they're ending their marriage.

He added that, as parents, Jon and Kate should let their children know the breakup isn't their fault, and reassure them that the love will always be there. He said giving each child individual attention and answering their questions and concerns are also essential as divorce proceedings advance. The psychologist adds that each parent should also strive to be as much of a presence in their children's lives as possible.

But Gardere's advice for the Gosselins family?

"Pull the plug."

He said continuing the show is unadvisable, particularly with what lies ahead for the family.

"There's just too much stress on those kids, and any kids who have to go through some sort of a separation or divorce situation with their parents," Gardere said. "And now with all of the undue, inordinate amount of attention from the cameras, from the world, it's going to be hard for them to live out a lot of these issues on the world stage."

Jon and Kate spoke of their decision to separate during Monday's episode of the TLC cable series. Near the end of the hour-long episode, a title card summed things up in stark terms: It said that on Monday, "Legal proceedings were initiated in Pennsylvania to dissolve the 10-year marriage of Jon and Kate Gosselin."

People.com reported Jon claims Kate was the one who filed for divorce.

The TLC network had been promising a major on-air announcement from the couple, whose increasingly troubled marriage has dominated the series in recent weeks, as well as fueling a firestorm of tabloid coverage.

And tabloids were in abuzz this weekend as Jon reportedly was seen looking at apartments in New York Friday.

Kate responded in a statement Monday night: "Over the course of this weekend, Jon's activities have left me no choice but to file legal procedures in order to protect myself and our children."

Kate said on the show they have been dealing a long time with marital problems and the attendant publicity.

"It's been a hard seven or eight months," Jon said on the Monday night episode in one of his separate on-camera sessions.

Kate said during the special she needs relief. "I need to turn the page," she said.

Jon described his relationship with Kate as "a total breakdown of everything."

"Jon & Kate" is TLC's most-watched series, drawing nearly 10 million viewers for its season premiere recently. But with the couple's celebrity has come nonstop media coverage, and scandal. There have been reports of infidelity by both Jon and Kate (accusations both of them deny).

Adding to the strain, Pennsylvania's Labor Department opened an investigation into whether the show's production is complying with state child labor laws. TLC has said it "fully complies" with state laws and regulations.

Mickey Sherman, a defense lawyer, told CBS News correspondent Terrell Brown, "When you factor in that you've got two TV stars, residuals, eight kids, and enormous amounts of money being in jeopardy, it's a mess."

Looking ahead, Kate said, "I don't really want to be alone. I don't want to do this alone."

But she described the split as "the next chapter." And while she and Jon have spoken angrily about the pressure on their marriage from fame and press attention, she conceded, "I believe that it's a chapter that probably would have played out had the world been watching, or not."

One thing the couple could agree on: "Jon & Kate Plus 8" will continue.

"We interview separately, we'll film different things," Jon explained. "Me and the kids, her and the kids."

"How does the show go on?" said Kate. "The show MUST go on!"