Parent Fair project by Jess D about Children and Divorce.

1. Children and Divorce
By: Jessica Duclos

2. Breaking the News
• Make sure both parents are
present when telling the
child the news.
• The child will feel that it is
their fault, so reassure that
it is not is key.
• For younger kids keep it
simple. For instance you
could say, “"Mom and dad
are going to live in different
houses so they don't fight
so much, but we both love
you very much.“

3. Helping them Cope
• "When children are free to
love both of their parents
without conflict of loyalty, to
have access to them both
without fear of losing either,
they can get on with the
totally absorbing business of
growing up, on schedule.“-
Isolina Ricci
• Be patient with their feelings.
They may not respond at first.
Remember that kids and even
people in general process
things at different rates

4. Helping Them Cope Cont.
• You can help by
providing structure and
stability to their now
changed life.
• Come up with a routine
or schedule to make
their lives easier to
manage.
• Listen to how they feel

5. My Own Experience
• Don’t make them choose between each parent
• Don’t talk about money in front of the children
• Keep it civil between both parents when around
the children
• Encourage phone calls to each parent to keep the
relationships the same
• Make each house feel the same as it was before
the divorce
• Don’t make the child be the messenger

6. Sources
• http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/help_c
hild_divorce.html
• http://children.webmd.com/kids-coping-divorce
• http://www.helpguide.org/mental/children_divor
ce.htm
• Books on Amazon about children and divorce:
– Putting Children First: Proven Parenting Strategies for
Helping Children Thrive Through Divorce
– Children of Divorce, The: The Loss of Family as the
Loss of Being (Youth, Family, and Culture)