Divorce can be a difficult time for children. As a parent, you may wish to help them through your divorce.
Talking to children about tough topics like divorce can prove challenging if you’ve never had to before. You can read the following to learn how you can talk about divorce with your children:
1. Plan on having the talk early
It could help to talk to your children about your divorce early before they hear it from someone else. You may wish to wait until you start the divorce process before you talk about anything that might change later. When you plan to have this talk, however, you may ask your soon-to-be-ex spouse to be present during the conversation. This way your children can see that their parents will still be there for them even after the divorce.
2. Consider your children’s ages
Children process information differently as they get older. Before you talk to your children, you may want to consider how best to talk to them depending on their ages. For example, a toddler will likely not understand what divorce means and you may have to simplify the matter for them. Conversely, a grade-schooler or teenager will have some idea about what divorce means for the family and will need an in-depth explanation.
3. Talk about what will change after the divorce
One way to help your children process your divorce is by talking about what will change once the process is over. Simply put: you and your children’s other parent likely won’t be living under the same roof much longer. This means your children may be tied to a visitation schedule. You may also need to explain to your children that they may need to change schools or attend a different church.
4. Spend some personal time with your children
Once you’re done explaining what will happen after the divorce, you may want to give your children some time to process the news. You may try planning some personal time with your children so they can see that you’re still there for them and so they can ask questions.
If you’re going through a divorce and have children, then it could help you to learn your legal options and understand your rights as a parent.
