Children And Divorce: 3 Tips For Helping Your Child Cope

Are you going through a divorce? Are you worried about how your children are going to cope with it?

We're not going to sugar coat it: divorce can be very hard on children. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to make the divorce process easier for them. 

Check out this children and divorce guide to learn how to help your child cope. 

1. Break the News the Right Way

To make the divorce process easier on your child, you first need to make sure that you break the news in the right way. If possible, try to have both parents there for the conversation. 

Also, make sure that the conversation fits your child's age, temperament, and maturity level. When discussing the divorce with them, make sure they know that they're still loved by both parents and that the divorce won't change that. 

Also, make sure you give your children plenty of space to express their emotions (even the negative ones) and ask questions. 

2. Don't Put Them in the Middle 

One of the worst things you can do to a child during the divorce process is to put them in the middle of your arguments. You should never:

• Fight with your partner about the divorce in front of your child

• Make your child the go-between in terms of communication

• Bad-mouth your ex in front of your child

• Ask your child to choose sides

While you don't need to sugarcoat the situation, exposing your children to the really ugly parts of the divorce can make it very difficult for them to adjust to their new reality. 

3. Encourage Communication 

It's important to understand that divorce is a very hard concept for young children to grasp. That's why it's very important that you encourage your children to communicate with you in regards to their feelings about the divorce. 

There's a good chance that after you break the news, they're going to have some questions, such as:

• Who will I live with?

• Who will I spend the holidays with?

• Where will I go to school?

• Will we move?

To answer these questions as honestly as possible, it's important that you and your partner have a talk about child custody and child support. You can check out this guide on understanding child support. 

Also, make sure you encourage your children to express their feelings about the divorce. When they do express their feelings, make sure to legitimize them.

For example, if your child says he/she is sad, don't say, "Well you shouldn't be!" Instead, say something like, "I know you're feeling sad now", or, "I know you get lonely when Dad isn't here". 

Children and Divorce: Helping Your Child Cope 

Now that you've read this guide on children and divorce, you'll have a better idea of how you can help your kid cope. Divorce is never an easy process, but with these tips, you can make things easier for your child. 

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